A viral story claims that a pelican stole an octopus from an aquarium, carried it away, and was later caught on pier cameras dropping the animal alive back into the ocean. However, after checking reports and records of similar incidents, there is no reliable evidence confirming that this particular event actually happened. No credible aquarium, wildlife organization, or news report appears to document the supposed rescue.
The story may be a combination of several real animal incidents. In 2016, an octopus named Inky famously escaped from New Zealand’s National Aquarium by squeezing out of its tank, crossing the floor, and traveling through a drainpipe that led directly to the ocean. Separately, pelicans are well known for opportunistically grabbing unusual prey, including fish and other marine animals, so a photograph or video of a pelican carrying an octopus could easily inspire a dramatic story online.
The most important detail is that the “stole it from an aquarium, then returned it alive” sequence remains unverified. There are genuine examples of surprisingly intelligent and unusual behavior involving both pelicans and octopuses, but no solid evidence that a pelican carried out this mysterious act of apparent kindness. Until the original footage or a trustworthy report is found, the story is better treated as a viral internet tale rather than a confirmed animal rescue.