An intelligent octopus stranded on a beach in Washington was saved in part by a compassionate young girl, who used her sand bucket to keep the animal wet until a rescue team arrived.
When a family spotted the Giant Pacific octopus stuck in the mud, they alerted a park ranger, who called the Padilla Bay Reserve, an educational research reserve. When that team arrived, they were surprised to see the cephalopod was in such good health, according to news reports.
The 10-year-old girl had filled up her sand bucket with water and poured the life-giving liquid on the octopus over and over again — a crucial move, as octopuses can’t survive long out of water.
“They can’t survive out of water for more than several minutes,” Annie England, with the Padilla Bay Reserve, said. “It collapses their gills.”
The rescue team maneuvered the 80 to 100 pound Giant Pacific octopus into a bin and transported her closer to the ocean. The octopus then “slowly crept out” and returned to her home waters, according to a Facebook post by Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.
We at Lady Freethinker are thrilled that this octopus was saved and are thankful for the compassionate, quick-thinking girl and rescue team that saved her life.
We’re also grateful that this caring family called officials to respond to the scene, as it’s important to never touch wildlife and to always seek help from a certified wildlife rehabber or marine stranding network when encountering a stranded or injured animal, just as this family did!
You can help octopuses today by signing our petition urging Washington to say no to cruel octopus farming, if you haven’t already, and please also share it with your friends and family.
SIGN: Tell Washington State to Say “NO” to Cruel Octopus Farming!
