In this episode of Brain Bamboozle, we dive into the astonishing true story of Inky, the octopus who executed a real-life escape from the National Aquarium of New Zealand. Discover how this intelligent cephalopod navigated his way to freedom, leaving experts and listeners alike questioning the boundaries between animal instinct and cunning strategy.

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Yes, this account is true, with only minor embellishments for storytelling. Inky, a common New Zealand octopus, did escape from the National Aquarium of New Zealand in 2016. He slipped out of his tank—likely through a gap left open after maintenance—crawled across the floor, and disappeared down a drainpipe that led to the sea[1][6][4]. The staff found only a wet trail as evidence of his escape.
Inky was never found after his breakout. His story became famous worldwide, highlighting the intelligence and curiosity of octopuses. Marine biologists note that such behavior is not unusual for octopuses, which are known for their problem-solving skills and ability to squeeze through tiny spaces[3][7]. The escape is widely regarded as fact, not legend, and has been reported by reputable news sources and the aquarium itself.

Sources:

[1] Inky (octopus) - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inky_(octopus)
[2] Octopus Crafts a Slippery Escape from New Zealand Aquarium https://www.uwphotographyguide.com/octopus-escape-new-zealand
[3] Inky the Octopus' prison break reveals it's smarter than you think https://www.dailyo.in/variety/inky-octopus-escapes-in-new-zealand-marine-animals-national-geographic-intelligence-10106
[4] Inky The Octopus's Great Escape - NPR https://www.npr.org/2016/04/16/474412283/inky-the-octopuss-great-escape
[5] Inky the Octopus pulls off daring escape from New Zealand aquarium https://globalnews.ca/news/2637542/inky-the-octopus-pulls-off-daring-escape-from-new-zealand-aquarium/
[6] Octopus makes great escape from New Zealand aquarium - BBC https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-36025141
[7] Inky the Octopus Stages Daring Nighttime Escape From ... - ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/International/inky-octopus-stages-daring-nighttime-escape-zealand-aquarium/story?id=38360845
[8] Inky the Octopus Escapes From a New Zealand Aquarium https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/world/asia/inky-octopus-new-zealand-aquarium.html
[9] TIL in 2016, an octopus named Inky mysteriously disappeared from ... https://www.reddit.com/r/octopus/comments/uw8b4r/til_in_2016_an_octopus_named_inky_mysteriously/
[10] How Inky the Octopus Escaped Through a Drainpipe to the Sea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CYYlJBbfIE