Visitors to Maymont’s Robins Nature Center this Friday, March 17 will get a chance to meet a real live octopus. The tiny little creature arrived recently “along with a collection of preserved specimens of native species collected in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Coast on loan from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) at William and Mary for use in Maymont’s education programs through May 2023.” The octopus will be on view for up to a year in the Robins Nature Center.
Octopuses have been in the public eye of late, thanks to the gorgeous and moving 2020 documentary, “My Octopus Teacher” by director Craig Foster, which was filmed off the coast of South Africa. The movie will be screened for free at Maymont on Friday, March 17, as part of the 13th Annual RVA Environmental Film Festival.
Per the release: “Doors open at 5pm, and the film will be shown at 6:30 p.m., followed by a panel discussion and Q&A facilitated by Aimee Bushman, manager of environmental education at Maymont, and Jenny Dreyer, research manager and curator of the VIMS Invertebrate Collection at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science in Gloucester Point, Virginia … The VIMS specimens will be on display to the public on the 17th for the film screening and discussion.”
“We are so excited to expand Maymont’s aquatic collection with such a fascinating creature,” said Krista Weatherford, director of programming and
community engagement, in a press release. “It will help our educators teach about the differences between vertebrate and invertebrate species, animal adaptations both physical and behavioral, and human impacts on their habitats.”
Joe Neel, senior manager of zoology, added: “Octopuses are among the most intelligent creatures on the planet. They have been observed solving puzzles and mazes, and opening jars to get food. Even keeping one in a tank is extremely difficult, as they are known to be escape artists. To avoid predators, they can mimic inanimate objects with physical adaptations to match the color and patterns of their surroundings for camouflage.”
