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"Way too smart for touch tanks": San Antonio aquarium lets visitors touch giant…
"I think the recommended tank size is ocean."
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San Antonio Aquarium Under Scrutiny After Octopus Interaction Video Sparks Public Safety Concerns
San Antonio, TX – A recent video circulating online has ignited a debate regarding animal welfare and public safety at the San Antonio Aquarium. The video, originally posted by the aquarium, features a staff member engaged in a seemingly playful, yet visibly strenuous, interaction with a large octopus in a public touch tank. The footage shows the octopus strongly adhering to the staff member's arm, who appears to struggle to detach it. Concerns escalated after content creator Britney Taryn reacted to the video, highlighting the octopus's inherent strength and the fact that its beak is venomous. She questioned the safety of such interactions, particularly for children, in an unsupervised setting. Taryn stated that her prior emails expressing concern about visitor and octopus safety had been ignored by the aquarium. She further revealed an image of her son's arm, showing suction marks from a previous interaction with an octopus at the facility, underscoring her apprehension. Comments from the public echo these concerns, with several individuals alleging a history of animal mistreatment and neglect at the San Antonio Aquarium and other facilities owned by the same company. Former marine biologists have also weighed in, noting the lack of accreditation for these facilities as a significant red flag. The incident has prompted calls for greater scrutiny of touch tank practices and animal care standards at the aquarium.
