Jurassic Park and it’s sequel Jurassic World center on the dino-riffic attractions of a safari park escaping and wreaking havoc. But you don’t have to look at science fiction to find other animals with high intelligence and a will to be free. Here’s a look at some real life creatures that have been known to break out of captivity:
Octopuses (aka Octopi aka Octopodes)
Probably the most famous example, octopuses have been in the news for escaping aquariums all around the world. Incredibly intelligence, they’ve also been repeatedly shown being able to figure out all sorts of things from unscrewing a jar (see below) to breaking into a plastic puzzle box in order to eat the crab trapped inside. Learn more about their super-smarts in this Animalogic video.
Llamas
We all remember where we were in February, 2015 when two llamas escaped into Sun City, AZ. Since then, llamas have been reported on the run in places like Colorado in May, 2016, Oxforshire, England in July, 2016, Minnesota in March, 2017. And these are just some of the stories that hit the news, let alone the ones we haven’t heard about. If you’d like to hear what happened to that original dynamic duo, the Today Show did a follow up.
Honey Badgers
Among all the other things we know about them, they are apparently a lot more wily than we’ve perhaps given them credit for. Meet Stoffel, a shining example of this. Honey Badger don’t care how elaborate a pen you build, Honey Badger will escape.
Hamsters/Guinea Pigs
These little furballs are notorious for getting out of their cages. Whether they’re in a classroom, a home or some kind of animal park (like Randy the Guinea Pig who was found in what was supposed to be an all-female pen), they also seem to find a way out. Like 60s Batman.
Cats
Our feline friends have many skills like luring you into naps by laying on you and purring or pushing items to that perilous point where they’re about to fall off the counter. They also have a knack for breaking loose from carriers and homes across the world. As you can see below, it isn’t just happenstance, there’s actual skill to what they do. (Note: There’s a cat out there named Batman that made a break for it in an airport. I felt it very important to mention this.)
What other Houdini-like animals can you think of? Have any great stories of animal escapes you’ve witnessed? We’d love to hear them!
