We’ve seen all kinds of videos where humans help out their animal brethren. This is another one, but with a twist: rather than a dog or cat, this one features a human being a real bro to an octopus.
It went down in the ocean off of Lembeh, Indonesia.
Diver Pall Sigurdsson were diving in the crystal clear waters off of Lembeh Island when they sighted a tiny coconut octopus (also known as a veined octopus) on the seabed.
If you’re wondering why they’re known as “coconut” octopus, get ready for a super cute explanation.
Apparently, back in 2009 , some Australian marine biologists were observing these fascinating creatures and noticed something interesting. The octopus would frequently find discarded halved coconut shells on the seafloor, pick them up, and carry them around as their own personal mobile homes.
And it’s not like these guys just stumbled upon their shells and said “that’s that!”
Biologists noted they would actually dig for the shells in the sand, and then give them a good cleaning with water jets aimed precisely at the dirtiest parts of the coconut. After all, you wouldn’t want to live in a dirty house, wouldn’t you?
Yeah, neither do these little guys.
The octopus we’re talking about was seeking shelter, much like the other members of his octo-family do.
But some trouble came when it seemed he couldn’t locate a coconut shell (or regular shell, for that matter) for his new home.
“This particular individual, however, has been trapped by their instincts and have made a home out of a plastic cup they found underwater,” wrote Sigurdsson.
Ocean garbage has wide-ranging effects.
While the plastic cup might offer some protection, Sigurdsson notes that a predator would probably see the octopus through the clear cup, likely gulping it up and poisoning themselves in the process.
The divers sprung into action.
When dealing with a tiny, scared octopus, it’s best not to just yank it out of its shelter. Sigurdsson and his friends went with the slow and gentle approach to coax it out of the cup.
They needed to offer an alternative shelter.
Just like a realtor dealing with prospective clients, the divers offered the octopus one shell after another in an effort to show the octopus that there are better places to live.
The approach paid off.
The divers spent a fair amount of time seeking alternative accommodations for the octopus. But if you didn’t know, coconut octopus tend to be rather picky . So picky in fact that it didn’t have any interest in most of what the divers offered.
The first few “homes” they offered the octopus were assuredly rejected.
But thankfully, ever the patient realtors, they kept at it and eventually a shell was presented that seemed to meet the little guy’s high standards.
The octopus scurried into its new home.
Now ensconced in a fashionable shell, as nature intended, the octopus has a proper shelter.
What’s more, the divers were able to take the cup out of the ocean.
Which hopefully will help spare sea creatures from facing a grim fate because some human was too lazy to find a recycling bin.
I’m not crying, you’re crying.
Humans are weird. We’ve filled the oceans with harmful garbage, but on an individual level, we’re capable of some pretty touching stuff.
Be sure to check out the whole video below.
