The Aquarium of the Pacific has revealed the fate of its beloved giant Pacific octopus, Ghost, who is now in the final stage of her life.
On Sept. 8, the aquarium announced on Instagram that Ghost had entered senescence — the natural last phase of an octopus’s life cycle. During this time, female octopuses dedicate themselves entirely to protecting their eggs, often neglecting to eat or care for themselves. The aquarium confirmed that Ghost’s eggs are unfertilized.
In an update on her condition, Nate Jaros, the aquarium’s vice president of animal care, told PEOPLE that Ghost, who “continues to rest comfortably behind the scenes,” will be cremated after her passing.
“After she passes, our veterinary team will do a necropsy examination, similar to a human autopsy, to learn as much as we can about her health to ensure we are providing optimal care and nutrition; and her remains will be cremated,” Jaros explained.
Ghost first arrived at the Aquarium of the Pacific in May 2024 after being collected by a permitted scientific specialist. Originally from the waters off British Columbia, Canada, she is estimated to be between 2 and 4 years old — the typical lifespan for a giant Pacific octopus ranges from three to five years.
In their announcement, the aquarium shared that Ghost “is a wonderful octopus and has made an eight-armed impression on all of our hearts.”
To honor her memory, the Aquarium of the Pacific plans to celebrate Ghost’s impact through social media and special projects. “Our focus has been to celebrate and honor before her passing through social media sharing about her and her impact on staff and the public,” Jaros said.
The aquarium is also collaborating with an artist to produce a commemorative print of Ghost. “We plan to work with an artist to create a print of her,” Jaros added.
“We are thankful for how far reaching this story has become,” he continued. “We really hope that part of Ghost’s legacy is bringing awareness to the role aquariums play in connecting people with marine life and ocean stories. Supporting aquariums helps to preserve wild places through important conservation and education efforts.”
Although Ghost’s time is drawing to a close, the Aquarium of the Pacific continues to care for other giant Pacific octopuses, with one behind the scenes and another currently in the main octopus habitat.
