Visitors to the Aquarium of the Pacific are bidding a heartfelt farewell to one of its most beloved residents — Ghost, a giant Pacific octopus who is now entering the final stage of her life.
The octopus, known for her vibrant personality and intelligence, recently laid a clutch of unfertilized eggs and is now in senescence, the natural last phase of her species’ life cycle.
According to The Associated Press, during this period, she will spend her remaining energy protecting the eggs — even though they will never hatch — while forgoing food and rest.
“She is a wonderful octopus and has made an eight-armed impression on all of our hearts,” the aquarium shared in an emotional Instagram post this week.
Ghost arrived at the aquarium in May 2024 from the waters of British Columbia, Canada. Weighing just 3 pounds (1.4 kilograms) at the time, she grew to more than 50 pounds (22.7 kilograms), said Nate Jaros, the aquarium’s vice president of animal care.
“She was a super active and very physical octopus,” Jaros said. “Octopus in particular are incredibly special because of how charismatic and intelligent they seem to be, and we really form tight bonds with these animals.”
Ghost quickly became a favorite among both staff and visitors. She was trained to voluntarily crawl into a basket for routine weigh-ins and dietary monitoring. But she also sought human interaction.
“Sometimes, she would push aside food her caregiver was offering just to interact with them more,” Jaros said.
She regularly engaged in enrichment activities, solving puzzles and hunting for food hidden inside toys. One of the most memorable moments was when staff spent hours building her a large acrylic maze — which she “mastered almost instantly,” according to Jaros.
Now in senescence, Ghost has been moved to a private tank where caregivers continue to comfort her through enrichment and observation.
In the wild, female giant Pacific octopuses live alone and come together with males briefly to reproduce — often dying shortly after laying eggs.
“You really can’t combine males and females for any period of time because they don’t naturally cohabitate,” Jaros explained. “They’re at high risk or aggression or even potentially death.”
While her eggs are unfertilized and will not hatch, Ghost’s instinct drives her to care for them until her final moments.
Though her life is nearing its end, Ghost’s legacy will continue. The aquarium has welcomed a new octopus, weighing just 2 pounds (900 grams). Staff will name it after evaluating its personality.
The new octopus is “super curious” and “seems to be a very outgoing animal,” Jaros said.
Ghost’s impact has reached beyond the aquarium’s walls. Fans have taken to social media to share memories, tattoos, and even clothing items featuring her likeness. Many have expressed gratitude for the joy and fascination she sparked.
Among those touched by Ghost’s story is Jay McMahon, a marine biology student from Los Angeles, who credits his passion for the ocean to an early visit to the aquarium.
“When you make a connection with an animal like that and you know they don’t live for that long, every moment means a lot,” McMahon said. “I just hope she encourages people to learn more about the octopus and how important they are.”
