Animals Make World Cup Predictions

They are back with a bang in zoos all over the world, animals are taking to the food bin to offer predictions for the results of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

At the previous World Cup held in 2010 Paul the Octopus from Germany was able to offer 12 predictions out of 14 World Cup soccer games. Unfortunately Paul died in October 2010 but there have been a number of other animals that have sought to take his place according to the BBC.

In china there is a panda named Ying Mei that has already predicted Brazil as the eventual winner when it chose to eat from a box that was covered in the Brazilian flag. In Brazil a sea turtle called Big Head decided to swim towards a goal bearing the host nation’s flag, successfully suggesting that Brazil would beat Croatia which is did 3 to 1 in the opening match of the World Cup.

Not everyone is happy with the idea that animals should participate in the global celebration of football through whimsical forecasts. Chinese officials for example have banned panda cubs at the Chengdu centre from taking part in the games. They argue that prolonged contact with humans would end up being harmful to the pandas.