Octopus Spotted In The Clear Waters Of Venice's Canals

An octopus has been spotted floating along the canals of Venice.

Footage which was shared on social media by Marco Sigovini shows the large creature floating in the water near the Piazzale Roma in the Italian city.

It comes weeks after the tourist hot spot was brought to a standstill when the country was placed into lockdown to prevent the further spread of coronavirus.

Since the footage emerged, it has left experts scratching their heads as to how the octopus found its way to Venice.

Luca Mizzan, the director of the city's Natural History Museum, told the Corriere del Veneto that nothing could be ruled out and that it could even be a prank.

He said: "It's really very strange than an octopus can get there in that environment so far from the sea and close to the hinterland.

Facebook/Marco Sigovini

"Nothing can be ruled out even if it's a joke. The video shows that he is a visibly healthy octopus, he is not afraid."

Irene Guarneri is one of the ecologists who has been examining the clip. Speaking about the footage and what it means, she said that though it isn't totally unheard of for these creatures to be spotted in the waters there, it is 'certainly very rare'.

She said: "Surely it is related to the decrease in traffic due to the lockdown."

For weeks, Venice, like many other popular destinations, has been deserted, with no gondolas, cruise liners, or vaporettos in sight, leaving the waters clear of traffic and pollution.

Earlier this month, a jellyfish was also spotted swimming through the canals.

Andrea Mangoni

Biologist Andrea Mangoni, who works in Venice, was able to capture a clip of the jellyfish as it made its way through the water, which is now crystal clear due to the ongoing coronavirus lockdown.

Speaking to Reuters, Mangoni said the low tide combined with low traffic made it possible to see the animals return to the canals.

He added: "I was able to film a jellyfish that was swimming close to the San Marco square, only [a] few inches below the water surface."

Sharing his clip on Instagram, Mangoni wrote: "Sometimes you just have to change your point of view, to admire a ghost moving through the Venetian palaces.

"Thanks to the exceptional calm of the canals of Venice due to the absence of boats, this [barrel] jellyfish (rhizostoma pulmo) swam in the transparent waters near the Baretteri Bridge, and seemed to slip through the reflection of the buildings."

Topics: World News, Interesting, Coronavirus

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

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