This holiday everyone is feeling festive and that includes Polpo, the resident octopus at the World Museum who has recently received her first ever Christmas present.
Staff at the aquarium decided to extend their festive cheer to their aquatic residents this year, most notably Polpo the octopus, who found a wrapped and bow-tied present in her tank.
The gift is a multi-staged puzzle that once cracked reveals some tasty treats.
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Museum aquarist Alyster Chapman said: "The first obstacle is the bowtie. Next she needs to take the wrapping off.
"And then inside the present there's a puzzle made of children's waffle bricks, so she’ll use her great strength here because the bricks are quite tricky.
"Then inside the bricks there’s a box with the food inside so she needs to remove the lid as well to get to the food."
It may sound too complicated but nothing phases Polpo.
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Alyster added: "The first time we put it in it took her about 20 minutes to figure out and as she’s got used to it she’s quicker every time. So we try and put in a few different challenges to change it up.
"We give her puzzles to keep her engaged and active. It's for her intelligence. She's very smart and curious.
"In the wild octopuses will find food by navigating certain obstacles. So we need to make sure we keep her engaged. If we just put the food directly into the tank she won't be as active and she won't need to use her brain."
But it’s not just about the food. Polpo will play like a child and often teases staff by grabbing the nets and ladders they use to clean her tank.
Alyster added: "The other day I actually got into the tank for the first time. At first she was a little bit confused but then she went straight for my foot. She tried to pull my boot off."
She has also been known to play hide and seek and, because of her surprising strength, even tug of war.
Polpo, whose name is Italian for octopus, is a member of the Octopus Vulgaris (Common Octopus) species found in oceans across the globe due to their adaptability. She arrived at the World Museum aquarium in April.
