The Two Oceans Aquarium’s newest eight-armed resident turns heads, and she’s as clever as a cat!
Cape Town, South Africa (29 May 2026) – Cherry is the Two Oceans Aquarium’s newest octopus ambassador, and one of the most interesting creatures in her gallery!
“We carefully welcome small, young octopuses like Cherry to act as species ambassadors for a short time before releasing them back into the wild.” shares the Two Oceans Aquarium (TOA).
The common octopus – or Octopus vulgaris – is a master of camouflage, capable of changing colour to match its surroundings within seconds. It is said to have the intelligence of a domestic cat, and can distinguish between objects of different sizes, shapes, colours and textures!
Cherry, like all octopodes, has three hearts, blue blood, and eyes that are strikingly similar to our own human eyes. Their lifespan, on the other hand, is short. An octopus gets about two to three years to reproduce before the end of its life.
That short lifespan is exactly why the Two Oceans Aquarium takes such care in how they welcome these animals.
While she’s there, Cherry is kept mentally sharp and happy through dedicated enrichment sessions. She loves a prey puzzle hidden in a jar, tubes and boxes, tactile toys, and interactive time with her keepers.
These kinds of activities are all designed to encourage her natural hunting instincts and problem-solving abilities.
“Octopuses need plenty of mental stimulation, and we make sure Cherry has lots of enrichment to keep her busy and thriving!”
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