Paul, the WCup predicting octopus, dies at 2 1/2

来源：百度文库 编辑：神马文学网 时间：2024/06/03 14:25:39

Paul, the WCup predicting octopus, dies at 2 1/2

08:36, October 27, 2010      

Email | Print | Subscribe | Comments | Forum 

Increases the bookmark twitter facebook digg Google Windowslive Delicious buzz friendfeed Linkedin diigo reddit stumbleupon


File picture shows octopus Paul, the so-called "octopus oracle" as it predicts Spain's victory in their 2010 World Cup semi-final soccer match against Germany by choosing a mussel from a glass box decorated with the Spanish national flag instead of a glass box with the German flag, at the Sea Life Aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen July 6, 2010. [Photo/Agencies]
Paul the Octopus, the tentacled tipster who fascinated football fans by correctly predicting results at this year's World Cup, died Tuesday.

Paul had reached the octopus old age of 2 1/2 years and died in his tank on Tuesday morning in an aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen, spokeswoman Ariane Vieregge said.

Paul seemed to be in good shape when he was checked late Monday, but he did not make it through the night. He died of natural causes, Vieregge added.

"We had all naturally grown very fond of him and he will be sorely missed," Sea Life manager Stefan Porwoll said in a statement.

The aquarium has not yet decided how best to commemorate their most famous resident, he said.

"We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds, and erect a modest permanent shrine," Porwoll said.

After rising to global prominence during the World Cup in South Africa in June and July, Paul retired from the predictions business after the final between Spain and the Netherlands - the result of which he also forecast correctly - and returned to his prime role of making children happy.

The invertebrate was stepping "back from the official oracle business," Tanja Munzig, a spokeswoman for the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen, told AP Television News at the time.

"He won't give any more oracle predictions - either in football, nor in politics, lifestyle or economy," she said. "Paul will get back to his former job, namely making children laugh."

Paul correctly tipped the outcome of all seven of Germany's games. He made his predictions by opening the lid of one of two clear plastic boxes, each containing a mussel and bearing a team flag.

After his World Cup soothsaying skills were revealed, the English-born Paul was appointed as an ambassador to England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup. He had English roots, having been hatched at Weymouth Sea Life Center on England's south coast in 2008.

Imitators sprang up all over the world, including Mani the Parakeet in Singapore and Lorenzo the Parrot in Hannover, Germany.

The latest was a saltwater crocodile named Dirty Harry, who predicted Spain's World Cup final win and called the result of Australia's general election by snatching a chicken carcass dangling beneath a caricature of Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

"El Pulpo Paul" became so popular in Spain that the northwestern Spanish town of O Carballino tried to borrow him and made him an "honorary friend."

In response to hundreds of requests to bring Paul to Spain, the Madrid Zoo asked Sea Life if it would be willing to make a deal to bring him in as a tribute to the Spanish football team's victory, either temporarily or for good. But the German aquarium turned down that offer, too.

Paul also had an agent and Paul's name will live on the Greek island of Zakynthos, where a permanent sea turtle rescue center funded in part by donations generated by the famous octopus is being established.


【1】 【2】

  • Paul to stay with Hornets

  • "Oracle octopus" paul becomes favourite friend of Spanish town Carballino

  • "Oracle octopus" paul becomes favourite friend of Spanish town Carballino

  • Russian betting firm wants to hire "Paul the Octopus"

  • Octopus Paul gets big stamp of approval

  • Nine impressive octopus on screen

  • Octopus "Paul" streches its feelers far to Shanghai Expo

  • Octopus popular on Web and menus

  • Perky oracle octopus Paul

  • Psychic octopus Paul receives death threats

Paul, the WCup predicting octopus, dies at 2 1/2 Paul the octopus opts for Spain in World Cup final Paul the 'Psychic' Octopus Predicts Spain to Win World Cup Paul the octopus opts for Spain in World Cup final -CNN Making the Most of Technology at Hand (2) Pioneering Physicist John Wheeler Dies at 96: Scientific American 50.At the Zoo 50.At the Zoo at the price of just at the moment Making the Most of Technology at Hand(1) Enron‘s Ken Lay Dies at 64 | Bill Aims to Renew Hedge Fund Rule The MetaQuerier Project at UIUC Remarks at the Peace Banquet Enemy at the Gates/兵临城下 The Bolivarian Revolution at the Crossroads The truth behind Paul's winning streak - CNN.... The Best Of Peter, Paul And Mary: Ten Years T... A First Look at the Wicket Framework Chinese culture presented at the Frankfurt Bo... The Kite Runner Summary at WikiSummaries: Fre... Imaging Research Center at The University of ... I will laugh at the world. [Economist] The IMF | A Frenchman at the helm