Octopuses are recognized for their extraordinary intelligence, demonstrated through behaviors such as tool use, problem-solving, and complex navigation abilities. These invertebrates have complex nervous systems that allow them to experience pain, stress, and, potentially, even emotions, raising significant ethical questions about their consumption and captivity conditions.
These behaviors have fostered a global appreciation for octopuses, further highlighted by the 2020 Netflix documentary My Octopus Teacher, which showcases the profound connection between filmmaker Craig Foster and an octopus in a South African kelp forest.
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In response to growing evidence of their sentience, the United Kingdom extended new protections to octopuses under its Animal Welfare (Sentience) Bill in 2021, recognizing them as sentient beings capable of feeling pain.
Given their advanced…