It sure looks like this octopus at the Seattle Aquarium is attempting to flee to freedom before being caught in the act. Or, in the observant words of the person behind the camera, "He's like ... aww man, they got me!" Alas, that may not be what was really happening.
Seattle Aquarium staff have another explanation for the scene captured in the viral video, according to a Seattle news station:
The Seattle Aquarium's Tim Kuniholm tells Q13 FOX News [that the] "video has been blown out of proportion."
"It's a new octopus, 'Ink,' in a new exhibit exploring his boundaries," said Kuniholm. "In the video that's been shared by the public it's one of our staff members helping Ink bank into his exhibit after exploring the edge."
The Seattle Aquarium does regular work with the Giant Pacific Octopus species found here in Puget Sound. Just a few weeks ago the aquarium released two of its octopuses back into the sound.
Science or PR babble? After all, we know that octopuses are not dummies. Whatever the answer, those delighted/terrified reactions from the crowd when Ink's first tentacle flails over the edge are priceless.