Beloved Aquarium of the Pacific octopus spends last days caring for eggs, although they won't hatch

The Brief

LONG BEACH, Calif. - A beloved giant Pacific octopus named Ghost at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach is in the final stage of her life, caring for a clutch of unfertilized eggs that will never hatch.

This last phase of an octopus’s life, known as senescence, is a natural process where the octopus ceases eating and dedicates its remaining energy to protecting and aerating her eggs.

What we know:

Ghost, who is estimated to be between two and four years old, arrived at the aquarium in May 2024 from British Columbia, Canada.

She was known for her active and engaging personality, and caregivers at the aquarium formed "tight bonds" with her.

She was trained to voluntarily crawl into a basket for weigh-ins and enjoyed interacting with humans, sometimes pushing food aw