Listen to Diver Tell Adorable Story of Her Octopus Friend Named 'Egbert'
Animals of the sea are rarely seen, and they usually don’t interact with humans.
Divers and snorkelers are the few that get to see these sea creatures up close and personal.
In some instances, they even form a bond that is truly unique.
A diver named Elora Kooistra became friends with a curious creature. She made many trips under the sea over her lifetime, but it wasn’t until recently that she formed a bond with an octopus, according to The Dodo.
Egbert, as she affectionately named him, was living in a conch shell as only a baby. Kooistra wanted to gain his trust, so she began visiting him on a regular basis.
She fed him fish and even taught him how to open a jar to get the fish to eat.
While Egbert was timid at first, over time he learned that Kooistra was a friend and not an enemy of the sea.
Egbert allowed Kooistra to pet him and he responded by holding her fingers with a little tug.
Soon Egbert was looking to Kooistra to feed him fish, and she knew that he trusted her more and more with each trip she made to see him.
One day, Kooistra began to worry as many snorkelers were in the area and Egbert was nowhere to be found.
His conch shell was abandoned, and Kooistra feared the worst.
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A few days later, Egbert was back, and Kooistra rejoiced at his safe return.
As Egbert grew, so did his relationship with Kooistra. Soon he was interacting with her and allowing her to get closer and closer to him.
Every now and then he would disappear for a few days but always came back to see his human friend.
Kooistra had never had a partnership with an octopus before, and Egbert became a special friend that she looked forward to visiting every chance she could get.
He never acted the way she thought, even when she brought him fish. He was quite a little character, giving Kooistra plenty to chuckle about.
Kooistra decided to share her experience with Egbert on social media, and the results have been amazing as others see that octopi are nothing to fear.
If an octopus, like Egbert, can extend their hand and be a friend to an unknown diver like Kooistra, others in the world can find friendships in the most unlikely places.
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