Wanda, the giant Pacific octopus currently residing at SidneyB次元官网网址檚 , has come by her nickname honestly.

B次元官网网址淲e call her B次元官网网址楬andsy,B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址� says Kit Thornton, chief aquarist. B次元官网网址淪he really likes to play. SheB次元官网网址檒l leave sucker-marks, like hickies, on your arm after play.B次元官网网址�

This touchy-feely aspect of WandaB次元官网网址檚 personality becomes obvious a little bit later when Thornton feeds Wanda shrimp frozen in ice cubs and entertains her with a ball and other assorted toys. As Thornton strokes the animalB次元官网网址檚 head, WandaB次元官网网址檚 tentacles start to cling to ThrontonB次元官网网址檚 bare arms and hands with outer tips touching the fabric of ThorntonB次元官网网址檚 rolled-up sleeves.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 like wrestling with a Kraken,B次元官网网址� she says.

Wanda (who is believed to be somewhere in the middle of her three-to-five-year lifespan) arrived in Sidney in December, weighing eight pounds, from the waters just off Ucluelet.

WandaB次元官网网址檚 personality is the B次元官网网址渃omplete oppositeB次元官网网址� from the previous occupant of her tank, Henry, named after provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, with Thornton describing Henry B次元官网网址� the animal B次元官网网址� as very relaxed and calm.

Wanda received her name through an online contest in January. The centreB次元官网网址檚 two volunteers with the highest number of donated hours B次元官网网址� 3,000 and 2,000 hours B次元官网网址� had previously come up with eight names, which also included Taylor, Wendy, Michaela, Wilma, Maria, Whoopi, and Hannah.

Tina Kelly, director of learning and communications, says past naming contests have centred around a theme (like women scientists), with members of the public voting with paper ballots placed in front of the octopus tanks, a procedure not available during the COVID-19 pandemic. Accordingly, the naming contest for Wanda moved online.

B次元官网网址淲hat is great about the contest is that it gives our community and our members and the public an opportunity to participate in the process and get people active outside the centre,B次元官网网址� Kelly says. B次元官网网址淭his time, in particular, we really made sure that was a part of the contest, that people outside had to vote.B次元官网网址�

Whether the public chose Wanda because of the movie A Fish Called Wanda is not clear, but visitors have historically accepted the winning choices, Kelly says, adding that it creates a connection. B次元官网网址淲e have had visitors who will come in and ask about octopus we had two years ago. Just on Sunday, I had a little boy come in and say, B次元官网网址榳hereB次元官网网址檚 Dr. Henry?B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

He left the the centre in mid-December when staff released him into the Pacific Ocean, where Wanda will join him in about four to six weeks.

For Thornton, this period will feature a whole range of emotions.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 always a bit bitter-sweet,B次元官网网址� Thornton says about WandaB次元官网网址檚 pending departure. B次元官网网址淵ou do build a relationship with them over the four to six months that they are here. You are really glad to be seeing them go back to the ocean and then the hope is that they will reproduce and have offspring out there. And then there is a bit of excitement about meeting the new octopus coming and build that relationship up. So there is a whole bunch of feelings, but overwhelmingly it is positive.B次元官网网址�

The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea is a non-profit aquarium and learning centre dedicated exclusively to the Salish Sea bioregion. Plan your future visit at

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