Olly the Octopus back at Tropical World due to popular demand

A very popular Leeds’ visitor attraction has welcomed back one of its most loved residents.

After adorning the aquarium wall as a fun, colourful design for over 23 years, Olly the Octopus will once again be delighting both young and old visitors to the Arnold and Marjorie Ziff Tropical World after taking up residence at his new home in the Butterfly House.

Following the reopening of Tropical World in March of this year after a wide-ranging refurbishment programme, Olly was given a well-deserved holiday, but has now cut short any long-term retirement plans and returned to the Roundhay-based attraction after popular demand.

Famous for welcoming visitors with a gurgle after a monetary donation is dropped into his mouth, Olly is now joined at Tropical World by a new design, who located in Olly’s old spot on the aquarium wall, has been christened ‘Rodriguez’.

Tropical World is home to a wide range of animals from butterflies, birds, fish, reptiles, meerkats and nocturnal monkeys to bearded dragons and bats. A number of new animals have also joined the ranks at Tropical World following the refurbishment including an octopus, seahorses, stingray, dart frogs, Asian Tigerfish and a red bellied piranha.

Leeds City Council’s executive board member for communities Councillor Debra Coupar said:

“So many generations of children have grown up with Olly the Octopus’s design on the wall at Tropical World, and we are delighted to welcome him back to his spiritual home after a short holiday.

“Olly has now been joined by a new wall design ‘Rodriguez’ at the attraction, who is already proving to be a big hit with visitors of all ages. Following a fantastic refurbishment there is even more to see and do at Tropical World, and we are looking forward to what promises to be an exciting autumn and winter season.”

Notes to editors:

For more information regarding Tropical World please see: www.leeds.gov.uk/tropicalworld; Twitter: www.twitter.com/tropworldleeds or Facebook at: www.facebook.com/tropicalworldleeds

Entrance prices at Tropical World are as follows:

Adults: £5.00LeedsCard: £3.00‘Extra’ cardholders: £2.00Breezecard holders: £2.00-5 to 15 year olds: £2.50-Under 5s: Free

For media enquiries, please contact;

Colin Dickinson, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 39 51578

Email: colin.dickinson@leeds.gov.uk