Paul the Octopus or Paul Oktopus is a common octopus, used as an oracle to predict the results of German international football matches.
Paul is presented with two boxes, each containing food, and each marked with the flag of a national team. He is reported to have chosen the box with the flag of the winning team in several of Germany's six Euro 2008 matches, and in each of their first six matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Early life
Paul was hatched from an egg at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, England, and is now kept in a tank at Sea Life Oberhausen, a commercial attraction in Germany.[1] Paul's name was taken from the title of a poem by the German children's writer Boy Lornsen: Der Tintenfisch Paul Oktopus.[2][3] According to Sea Life's entertainment director, Daniel Fey, Paul demonstrated his intelligence early in life:
"There was something about the way he looked at our visitors when they came close to the tank. It was so unusual, so we tried to find out what his special talents were."[3]
The animal rights organisation PETA claimed that Paul's confinement causes him suffering, and that he should be set free, but Sea Life responded by stating that such a release would be dangerous for Paul, who is not accustomed to finding food for himself
Friday, 09 July 2010
10 things you should know about Paul the oracle octopus
He has become one of the stars of the tournament and put the TV pundits to shame, thanks to an amazing run of correct World Cup predictions. Here's 10 things you didn't know about the tentacled tipster.
1. He's originally from Weymouth
Although he now resides at the Aquarium Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, Paul was actually born in Weymouth and moved from the town's Sea Life Park in 2006.
Fiona Smith, from Weymouth Sea Life Park, told the Dorset Echo: “He never made any predictions while he was living here but maybe he was waiting for a big event like the World Cup until he revealed his abilities.”
2. He's a wanted man
Argentine chef Nicolas Bedorrou was so angry after Paul correctly predicted his team would lose its quarter-final clash with Germany that he suggested a way to cook the octopus.
He posted on Facebook: "We will chase him and put him on some paper. We will then beat him (but correctly!) in order to keep the meat tender and then put it in boiling water."
3. He's big news
Paul's predictions have gained so much popularity that German news channel NTV has started to broadcast his predictions live, with two reporters situated next to his tank so they can bring their viewers all the latest goings on.
4. He's the biggest celebrity in Oberhausen
Having wowed the world's media with his predictions, Paul has put the mundane Germany city of Oberhausen on the map. Oberhausen, which is twinned with Middlesbrough, also boasts such sights as Germany's biggest shopping centre and Europe's largest disc-type gasometer. Worth a visit then ...
5. He's got a good track record
Paul began to predict Germany's results during the Euro 2008 tournament, correctly choosing the winner in four of Germany's six matches. He predicted Germany to win every match but was wrong when they lost to Croatia and in the final to Spain. So far at the World Cup 2010, Paul has correctly predicted the winner of each of Germany's five matches.
6. He could have made you a packet
Having correctly tipped the winner of Germany's five World Cup matches, backing Paul's tips could have netted you a few squid (sorry).
A £1 accumulator bet on all five results would have won you £131, which could comfortably buy you a few bags of mussels.
7. He's an intelligent creature
Octopuses are highly intelligent animals and have been proven to have a strong short and long-term memory.
Fiona Smith, head of animal care at Weymouth Sea Life Park said: “Common octopuses like Paul are very intelligent. We equate their intelligence with that of a dog and they love problem solving and figuring things out."
8. He's a Twitter and Facebook sensation
Paul has become an online phenomenon over recent weeks and is now one of the most talked about topics on the web. The phrases "Paul the Octopus" and "Pulpo", the Spanish word for octopus, are both currently in the top 10 global trends on Twitter.
9. He doesn't cheat
Paul predicts results by opening one of the two flag-covered plastic food containers in his tank. Tanja Munzig from the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen has denied any suggestions that the containers are rigged.
She said: "There are no tricks, the food is the same and everything in the two containers is the same except for the flags."
10. He's not scared of death threats
According to his keeper, Oliver Walenciak, Paul is unfazed by a series of death threats sent by Argentinian supporters who blame the octopus for their World Cup exit.
He said: "There are always people who want to eat our octopus but he is not shy and we are here to protect him as well. He will survive."
1. He's originally from Weymouth
Although he now resides at the Aquarium Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, Paul was actually born in Weymouth and moved from the town's Sea Life Park in 2006.
Fiona Smith, from Weymouth Sea Life Park, told the Dorset Echo: “He never made any predictions while he was living here but maybe he was waiting for a big event like the World Cup until he revealed his abilities.”
2. He's a wanted man
Argentine chef Nicolas Bedorrou was so angry after Paul correctly predicted his team would lose its quarter-final clash with Germany that he suggested a way to cook the octopus.
He posted on Facebook: "We will chase him and put him on some paper. We will then beat him (but correctly!) in order to keep the meat tender and then put it in boiling water."
3. He's big news
Paul's predictions have gained so much popularity that German news channel NTV has started to broadcast his predictions live, with two reporters situated next to his tank so they can bring their viewers all the latest goings on.
4. He's the biggest celebrity in Oberhausen
Having wowed the world's media with his predictions, Paul has put the mundane Germany city of Oberhausen on the map. Oberhausen, which is twinned with Middlesbrough, also boasts such sights as Germany's biggest shopping centre and Europe's largest disc-type gasometer. Worth a visit then ...
5. He's got a good track record
Paul began to predict Germany's results during the Euro 2008 tournament, correctly choosing the winner in four of Germany's six matches. He predicted Germany to win every match but was wrong when they lost to Croatia and in the final to Spain. So far at the World Cup 2010, Paul has correctly predicted the winner of each of Germany's five matches.
6. He could have made you a packet
Having correctly tipped the winner of Germany's five World Cup matches, backing Paul's tips could have netted you a few squid (sorry).
A £1 accumulator bet on all five results would have won you £131, which could comfortably buy you a few bags of mussels.
7. He's an intelligent creature
Octopuses are highly intelligent animals and have been proven to have a strong short and long-term memory.
Fiona Smith, head of animal care at Weymouth Sea Life Park said: “Common octopuses like Paul are very intelligent. We equate their intelligence with that of a dog and they love problem solving and figuring things out."
8. He's a Twitter and Facebook sensation
Paul has become an online phenomenon over recent weeks and is now one of the most talked about topics on the web. The phrases "Paul the Octopus" and "Pulpo", the Spanish word for octopus, are both currently in the top 10 global trends on Twitter.
9. He doesn't cheat
Paul predicts results by opening one of the two flag-covered plastic food containers in his tank. Tanja Munzig from the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen has denied any suggestions that the containers are rigged.
She said: "There are no tricks, the food is the same and everything in the two containers is the same except for the flags."
10. He's not scared of death threats
According to his keeper, Oliver Walenciak, Paul is unfazed by a series of death threats sent by Argentinian supporters who blame the octopus for their World Cup exit.
He said: "There are always people who want to eat our octopus but he is not shy and we are here to protect him as well. He will survive."
Who is Paul?
Paul the Octopus or Paul Oktopus is a common octopus, used as an oracle to predict the results of German international football matches.
Paul is presented with two boxes, each containing food, and each marked with the flag of a national team. He is reported to have chosen the box with the flag of the winning team in several of Germany's six Euro 2008 matches, and in each of their first six matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Early life
Paul was hatched from an egg at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, England, and is now kept in a tank at Sea Life Oberhausen, a commercial attraction in Germany.[1] Paul's name was taken from the title of a poem by the German children's writer Boy Lornsen: Der Tintenfisch Paul Oktopus.[2][3] According to Sea Life's entertainment director, Daniel Fey, Paul demonstrated his intelligence early in life:
"There was something about the way he looked at our visitors when they came close to the tank. It was so unusual, so we tried to find out what his special talents were."[3]
The animal rights organisation PETA claimed that Paul's confinement causes him suffering, and that he should be set free, but Sea Life responded by stating that such a release would be dangerous for Paul, who is not accustomed to finding food for himself
Paul is presented with two boxes, each containing food, and each marked with the flag of a national team. He is reported to have chosen the box with the flag of the winning team in several of Germany's six Euro 2008 matches, and in each of their first six matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Early life
Paul was hatched from an egg at the Sea Life Centre in Weymouth, England, and is now kept in a tank at Sea Life Oberhausen, a commercial attraction in Germany.[1] Paul's name was taken from the title of a poem by the German children's writer Boy Lornsen: Der Tintenfisch Paul Oktopus.[2][3] According to Sea Life's entertainment director, Daniel Fey, Paul demonstrated his intelligence early in life:
"There was something about the way he looked at our visitors when they came close to the tank. It was so unusual, so we tried to find out what his special talents were."[3]
The animal rights organisation PETA claimed that Paul's confinement causes him suffering, and that he should be set free, but Sea Life responded by stating that such a release would be dangerous for Paul, who is not accustomed to finding food for himself
Thursday, 08 July 2010
Paul will predict winner of Holland-Spain clash
Paul has become an international phenomenon after correctly forecasting the results for all six of Germany's World Cup games.
However, the octopus shocked Germany on Tuesday by picking Spain to win - a result, as it turns out, that was correct. Some Germans now want to see Paul publicly barbecued.
Paul will also make his prediction for the third-place play-off match between Germany and Uruguay. Paul's handlers will follow the now familiar routine. Two boxes will be lowered into his tank, each containing his favourite seafood food as well as the flags of the two opposing teams.
Whichever box Paul picks food from first is adjudged the winner.
Afterwards, Paul will be offered boxes with Spain and Holland flags on the front.
However, this will only happen if he is deemed not too tired and still hungry.
A spokesman for his aquarium said. "We do not want to overburden him."
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