Miss World Contestants to Witness Telangana's Security and Governance Showcase
The visit will include live demonstrations by the Mounted Police, Dog Squad, and OCTOPUS—the elite commando force—offering the international guests a first-hand look at the robust security infrastructure in place.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
05-08-2025
- Hindustan Times
Mother of boy grabbed by octopus says aquarium account is 'false, defamatory'
A mother in Texas is raising concerns after a Giant Pacific Octopus at the San Antonio Aquarium latched onto her 6-year-old son's arm and refused to let go, leaving behind visible bruises. The incident, which occurred on July 14, has gone viral on TikTok and sparked debate over animal interactions in public aquariums. An octopus reportedly attacked a six-year-old boy during an interactive exhibit last month at the San Antonio Aquarium,(Representative image/Unsplash) Long-time visitor, familiar octopus Britney Taryn, the mother of the child, said in her TikTok video that her son Leo has been visiting the aquarium regularly for over four years. He's also interacted with the same octopus, named Cthulhu, many times. According to her, guests have always been allowed to touch the animal, and Leo had developed a bond with it. 'They're allowed to touch them, and it's welcomed,' Taryn said in her TikTok video, which has garnered over 3 million views. She also shared an older photo of Leo gently petting the octopus in November 2024. 'It's not letting me go' During their most recent visit, Taryn noticed the octopus had grown significantly and was behaving differently. While Cthulhu usually placed its tentacles on Leo before releasing him, this time was different. 'Mom, it's not letting me go,' Leo reportedly said as the octopus tightened its grip. (Also read: TikToker details how her 6-year-old was 'attacked by Octopus' at San Antonio Aquarium | Watch) Taryn described the moment as alarming. She tried to help Leo pull away, but the animal didn't let go and even began rising out of the tank. 'We start freaking out because that octopus is now bigger than my 6-year-old,' she said. 'Is it going to engulf him and In her video, Taryn showed the series of bruises that the octopus left on her 6-year-old's arm. 'My son has visited the same octopus every week for 3 years. She always loved him until today, when she tried to pull him into the tank. It took 3 aquarium employees to get her off,' she wrote on TikTok. 'We thought it was a sweet animal bond… until it left bruises. And when we walked back later, she changed color the second she saw him,' the Texas mum added. Aquarium defends octopus In response to the viral video, the San Antonio Aquarium issued a statement to local outlet KSAT, claiming Taryn 'leaned her child over the exhibit barrier, allowing him to reach into the habitat without staff supervision.' The aquarium also said Leo remained calm and that medical assistance was offered, though declined. The aquarium noted that an incident report had been completed and signed by the mother. Taryn strongly disputed the statement, calling it 'false' and 'defamatory.' She said she was never offered medical help, nor asked to sign any report, and pointed out that multiple adults were present with her and could confirm this. Full statement from aquarium "At the San Antonio Aquarium, the safety and well-being of our guests, staff, and animals are our top priorities. We are aware of recent statements regarding an interaction between a guest and our Giant Pacific Octopus during a visit to our facility. We would like to provide clarity on the incident and address any concerns. During the visit, a guest and her child engaged with our octopus exhibit. The octopus exhibit is a 1,000+ gallon habitat intentionally designed with a tall barrier to provide safety for both guests and the animal. Reaching the octopus requires a person to lean fully over the wall of the enclosure and reach approximately 24 inches down from the top edge. Feeding interactions are strictly allowed only with staff supervision, as indicated by posted signage on the exhibit which states guests must follow all rules and instructions. In this instance, the guest leaned her child over the exhibit barrier, allowing him to reach into the habitat without staff supervision. The octopus displayed typical, curious behavior by touching and holding the child's arm. At no point was the octopus aggressive or attempting to harm the child. Our staff responded promptly to assist, ensuring the child was safely removed from the interaction. The child remained calm throughout, and medical assistance was offered but declined by the mother. An incident report was completed and signed by the mother at the time of the event. We want to emphasize that our Giant Pacific Octopus is a healthy, well-cared-for animal that thrives in its habitat and does not exhibit harmful behavior toward guests or staff. Octopuses are highly intelligent and curious creatures, and their interactions with humans are often playful and exploratory. However, as with any animal encounter, there are inherent risks, which is why we have strict protocols in place to ensure safety for all. The San Antonio Aquarium remains committed to providing safe, educational, and memorable experiences for all visitors while maintaining the highest standards of care for our animals. We encourage all guests to follow posted guidelines and staff instructions to ensure a safe and enjoyable visit." What the mother claims Taryn said interactions like these are not supervised, and the only signage on the tank has to do with feeding instructions, not safety. 'The San Antonio Aquarium's response is not only false; it is defamatory and appears to be a deliberate attempt to divert attention from the serious issues at hand,' she said in a written statement to KSAT. 'Contrary to the aquarium's claims, no medical attention was offered for my son, and I was not asked to sign an incident report. Several other adults were with me at the time and can attest to this. 'Because blame was never my intent, I only later sent an email solely to formally document the incident out of concern for the animal and the safety of others, but I received no response. 'Typically, contact with the octopus in that exhibit would only be possible by lifting a child over the glass, something we have done in the past under direct staff instruction. This tank is never staffed, and the public is often left to interact with the animals unsupervised. The only signage provides instructions for a feeding encounter. 'However, during this incident, the octopus was already near the glass, which I have documented on video. My son was able to reach it without assistance. This interaction revealed behaviors we had not witnessed before. 'With the guidance of multiple experts, we have since learned that these behaviors are consistent with senescence, the natural decline that occurs near the end of an octopus's life, and that neither the tank setup nor the nature of public interaction aligns with the AZA's standards for Giant Pacific octopus care,' said Taryn.
Hindustan Times
01-08-2025
- Hindustan Times
TikToker details how her 6-year-old was ‘attacked by Octopus' at San Antonio Aquarium
An octopus at the San Antonio Aquarium in Texas attacked a six-year-old boy during an interactive exhibit in July, sparking safety concerns. Britney Taryn, went viral on TikTok after she shared a video detailing the horrifying incident. She also claimed that workers at the aquarium brushed off the incident of her children's injury and called the octopus a 'super playful' creature. The TikToker claimed that her son Leon was left with suction bruises after the attack, which took place on July 14. An octopus reportedly attacked a six-year-old boy during an interactive exhibit last month at the San Antonio Aquarium,(Representative image/Unsplash) Also read: H-1B visa in-person interview mandate: How to prepare and key details to know TikToker details how her son was 'attacked by Octopus' In a chat with KSAT, Taryn said, 'The octopus started to come out, up over the glass. My friend and I were not sure what to do. There's no employees around so we started yelling for help.' An employee approached her and said that the octopus was 'super playful.' He tried to remove the creature from the boy's arm, but was unsuccessful. As per Taryn, it took three employees five minutes to detach the octopus from her son's arm. The boy's arm was covered with bruises. #AquariumStory #AnimalBondGoneWrong #OctopusBehavior #SeaLife #AnimalInstinct #MarineBiology #ParentingTikTok ♬ original sound - Britney Taryn @britneytaryn My son has visited the same octopus every week for 3 years. She always loved him until today, when she tried to pull him into the tank. It took 3 aquarium employees to get her off. Was it affection? Recognition? Or something more dangerous? We thought it was a sweet animal bond… until it left bruises. And when we walked back later, she changed color the second she saw him. 🎥 Watch til the end. 💬 Tell me: Was this love or a warning sign? 🧠 Octopus experts, weigh in. #Octopus According to the NY Post, Taryn has filed a complaint with the United States Department of Agriculture. She stated that Leo 'sustained extensive suction bruises,' adding that 'the employees on-site downplayed the incident.' Also read: Ohio Sales Tax Holiday 2025: Rules, what's included, what's not and more While Taryn raised concerns about the welfare of children, she does not have anything against the marine creature. She told KSAT that she was ' worried' something worse could happen to someone. 'I don't want anything to happen to any more kids, any adults,' she said. She further told the outlet that she did not want anything to happen to the octopus, adding that she would love to see the creature where it could live for the rest of its life. FAQs: What happened at the San Antonio Aquarium? A six-year-old was attacked by an octopus during an interactive exhibit. Are octopuses aggressive to humans? They are generally not aggressive towards human beings. What to do if an octopus grabs you? The trick is to remain calm and try to detach the octopus by peeling its suckers off. What happens if a human is bitten by an octopus? Most octopuses have some type of venom to paralyze their victims. It is advisable to seek medical attention immediately if you are bitten by one.
The Hindu
25-07-2025
- The Hindu
Artist Vivi Jojo Vellukunnel's water-inspired works will be showcased at an art party in Kumarakom
Water has been a constant source of inspiration for artist Vivi Jojo Vellukunnel. Having grown up watching the many moods of the Kodoor river in Kottayam, Vivi's deepest creative impulses have been shaped by water. A series of 15 abstract paintings by him, will be showcased at a one-night art party, 'The Mind of Water' at Kumarakom. Why a lakeside party and not a showcase at a gallery? 'Honestly it is an experiment. I feel that an art party would mean greater engagement with the works and open conversations around them. Viewers would be able to form connections with the works as opposed to exhibiting at a conventional gallery setting,' says Vivi. The works are in mixed media — he uses ink, acrylic, colour pencils, oil pastels. The show will have over 50 limited edition prints too. The works essentially explore the infinite memory of water — how it might think, feel and reflect. Having learnt canoeing at the age of 15, he has seen various facets of water, its power, gentleness, the depth and calmness. His own experiences and memories intermingle with the theme in these 'hydroscapes' as Vivi calls them. The collection also features his painting 'Octopus', which draws parallels between the creature and the unfathomable nature of water. Though an architect, Vivi's heart was in art and he has been painting since the age of five. Later, he honed his talent under the mentorship of artist and teacher T R Suresh and artist Joseph Chakola. This is Vivi's second solo exhibition. The first one, Mitya, dwelled on Nature, in 2018. The party will include a DJ, food and drinks. Though initially conceived as an 'invite only' event, Vivi felt it would be best to open it to anyone who would like to take a look at the works. The works will be on sale. On August 2 at Backwater Ripples, Kumarakom, from 6pm to 11pm.
