The San Antonio Aquarium is defending its giant Pacific octopus after a 6-year-old boy was left with bruises on his arm during a recent visit.
The incident occurred on July 14, during a visit by Britney Taryn and her son, Leo. In a now-viral TikTok video, Taryn described the moment the octopus emerged from its tank and wrapped around her son’s arm, refusing to let go. “We don’t have pictures or videos because everyone was freaking out,” she said in the video.
In a statement to PEOPLE, the San Antonio Aquarium responded to the incident, saying safety is a top priority for both guests and animals. A representative explained that the octopus lives in a 1,000-gallon habitat with a tall barrier specifically designed to prevent unsupervised access.
“Reaching the octopus requires someone to lean fully over the wall of the enclosure and reach approximately 24 inches down,” the spokesperson said. “In this instance, the guest leaned her child over the exhibit barrier, allowing him to reach into the habitat without staff supervision.”
The aquarium characterized the octopus’s behavior as “typical, curious behavior,” noting that it touched and held the child’s arm but did not act aggressively or with intent to harm.
“Our staff responded promptly to assist, ensuring the child was safely removed from the interaction,” the statement continued. “Our Giant Pacific Octopus is a healthy, well-cared-for animal that does not exhibit harmful behavior toward guests or staff.”
The aquarium emphasized that octopuses are highly intelligent and inquisitive animals. “As with any animal interaction, there are inherent risks, which is why strict protocols are in place to ensure safety for all.”
Britney Taryn later issued her own statement to PEOPLE, clarifying that she does not blame the octopus for what happened. “We understand that its behavior is completely natural,” she said. “Our goal is to advocate for better conditions for the animals and to ensure they are housed in safe, appropriate environments.”
Taryn disputed the aquarium’s version of events, calling their claims “false” and “defamatory.” She denied lowering her son into the tank and said the aquarium appeared to be shifting blame.
“No medical attention was offered for my son, and I was not asked to complete an incident report,” she said. “Several adults who were with me can confirm this.”
She added that the tank in question is rarely staffed and that past interactions with the octopus were done under the guidance of staff. “The only signage at the tank provides feeding instructions, and visitors are often left to interact with the animals without supervision,” she said.
Taryn said she later sent an email to formally document the incident out of concern for both the octopus and guest safety — but never received a response from the aquarium.
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