newsonaut
Turning inner space into outer space
Sunday, October 4, 2020
Connecting with an octopus can make you a better person
They say watching TV shows about nature is one of the most soothing things you can do for yourself. I can vouch for that.
There have been times when I’ve had a bad case of insomnia, so I get up in the middle of the night, turn on Netflix, and look for a nature show — preferably one narrated by David Attenborough.
It’s possible that I learn a few things about nature, but mostly I just let David’s voice lull me to sleep. Even when he talks about the danger of an animal going extinct, which is a terrible thought, his voice remains calm and relaxing.
There is a new nature show on Netflix called My Octopus Teacher that is also soothing, but it will definitely not put you to sleep. And I really did learn something this time — something so profound that it will stick with me for a long time.
It’s basically the story of diver Craig Foster, who befriends an octopus in the ocean waters off the southern tip of Africa. The key word here is “story,” because this is a journey of personal awakening, an experience that deepens his connection with the world we are part of.
As it turns out, the octopus is quite intelligent — roughly on par with a dog or cat. After she becomes habituated to the diver, she starts reaching out and they make physical contact. She never becomes a pet, of course, but she does allow him in her space without fear.
An octopus only lives for a little over a year, so he is able to follow about 80 per cent of her life, even recording her bittersweet death. During that time we discover many amazing things about the octopus, and become so attached that we find ourselves rooting for her as she evades a shark and cheering her on as she plays with a school of fish.
When it was all over, I was left with the feeling that a more fulfilling life would mean getting closer to nature. But getting out of the house is not always easy. It’s pretty darn comfortable inside. I need to make more of an effort.
More posts in the Animals category
Thursday, December 1, 2011
What to do when a purple dog arrives
Kamloops may be turning into a centre for lost dogs. First there was Pollux from Montreal. Now partly purple Snowball has turned up from Chilliwack.
For reasons we don’t fully understand, the SPCA had to be prodded into sharing the story of the purple dog with The Daily News. They should realize that stories like this, while not guaranteed a happy ending, make for wonderful free publicity.
Just one look at Snowball’s face was no doubt enough to tug at the heartstrings of half the city. If the owner hadn’t been found, she would have been adopted soon enough.
And along with that, the SPCA got a lot of attention. The many people who would have liked to adopt Snowball may instead take in one of the other dogs or cats at the shelter who need a home. Or failing that, they may decide to make a much-needed donation.
When an emaciated purple dog is plunked on the SPCA’s doorstep, the first instinct should of course be to care for it. The next step, though, should be looking at how a bizarre incident such as this can be used to help the shelter’s other animals.
More posts in the Animals category
