Oracle octopus opts for Spain
By Erik Kirschbaum |
July 10, 2010, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
IN a live broadcast watched across Europe, Germany's oracle octopus Paul picked Spain to beat the Netherlands in the World Cup final.
The two-year-old celebrity octopus, who has accurately picked the outcome of all six of Germany's World Cup matches so far, quickly tipped Spain to beat the Netherlands. It took him only three minutes to make up his mind.
"That was fast -- it looks like a clear-cut victory for Spain," said Tanja Munzig, spokeswoman for Sea Life in Oberhausen, surprised by his speed in picking Spain. For some matches it took Paul 70 minutes to decide.
The octopus, considered by some to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates, got the choice of picking food from two transparent containers lowered into his tank -- one with a Dutch flag on it and one with Spain's flag.
The container Paul opened first was regarded as his pick. Reaction in Spain was swift, with the country's biggest selling sports daily website Marca.com running the headline: "The octopus Paul makes us champions."
Earlier yesterday, Germans heaved a sigh of relief when Paul picked Germany to beat Uruguay in the World Cup match for third place. There were cheers in offices across Germany after crowds of TV viewers tuned in to watch Paul live.
Normally he only picks Germany matches. But for the final -- which begins at 2:30am on Monday, Beijing time -- Sea Life made an exception.
The octopus in Oberhausen turned into a global celebrity for correctly picking the winners of all six of Germany's World Cup matches -- including its two defeats to Serbia and Spain.
Yesterday, Paul first settled on top of the Germany container but after a few minutes shifted to the Uruguay container. Then after about 15 minutes he went back to Germany container, quickly opened the lid and ate the morsel of food inside.
Not an ordinarily superstitious people, Germans have become believers in Paul's possible psychic powers. But after Paul accurately picked Spain over Germany in the semifinal, some Germans called for his hide -- on a plate. Newspapers and websites were filled with recipes on how to cook and eat him.
Officials at Sea Life installed extra security to protect their octopus.
Spain's Environment and Fisheries Minister Elena Espinosa said: "On Monday I shall be at the European Council of Ministers and I shall be asking for a (fishing) ban on Paul the octopus so Germans do not eat him."
The two-year-old celebrity octopus, who has accurately picked the outcome of all six of Germany's World Cup matches so far, quickly tipped Spain to beat the Netherlands. It took him only three minutes to make up his mind.
"That was fast -- it looks like a clear-cut victory for Spain," said Tanja Munzig, spokeswoman for Sea Life in Oberhausen, surprised by his speed in picking Spain. For some matches it took Paul 70 minutes to decide.
The octopus, considered by some to be the most intelligent of all invertebrates, got the choice of picking food from two transparent containers lowered into his tank -- one with a Dutch flag on it and one with Spain's flag.
The container Paul opened first was regarded as his pick. Reaction in Spain was swift, with the country's biggest selling sports daily website Marca.com running the headline: "The octopus Paul makes us champions."
Earlier yesterday, Germans heaved a sigh of relief when Paul picked Germany to beat Uruguay in the World Cup match for third place. There were cheers in offices across Germany after crowds of TV viewers tuned in to watch Paul live.
Normally he only picks Germany matches. But for the final -- which begins at 2:30am on Monday, Beijing time -- Sea Life made an exception.
The octopus in Oberhausen turned into a global celebrity for correctly picking the winners of all six of Germany's World Cup matches -- including its two defeats to Serbia and Spain.
Yesterday, Paul first settled on top of the Germany container but after a few minutes shifted to the Uruguay container. Then after about 15 minutes he went back to Germany container, quickly opened the lid and ate the morsel of food inside.
Not an ordinarily superstitious people, Germans have become believers in Paul's possible psychic powers. But after Paul accurately picked Spain over Germany in the semifinal, some Germans called for his hide -- on a plate. Newspapers and websites were filled with recipes on how to cook and eat him.
Officials at Sea Life installed extra security to protect their octopus.
Spain's Environment and Fisheries Minister Elena Espinosa said: "On Monday I shall be at the European Council of Ministers and I shall be asking for a (fishing) ban on Paul the octopus so Germans do not eat him."
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