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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| World Cup 2014: Animals 'predict' World Cup results | World Cup 2014: Animals 'predict' World Cup results |
| (8 days later) | |
| During Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, Paul the Octopus shot to global fame by correctly "predicting" the winners of 11 out of 13 matches. | During Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, Paul the Octopus shot to global fame by correctly "predicting" the winners of 11 out of 13 matches. |
| Now several animals around England are stepping, flying and swimming forward to give their predictions. | Now several animals around England are stepping, flying and swimming forward to give their predictions. |
| But could this all just be a clever marketing ploy? | But could this all just be a clever marketing ploy? |
| Penguins Alf, Lolly and Ginny | Penguins Alf, Lolly and Ginny |
| On Wednesday the Gentoo penguins at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham predicted a draw for England in their opening game against Italy. | On Wednesday the Gentoo penguins at the National Sea Life Centre in Birmingham predicted a draw for England in their opening game against Italy. |
| But when they were asked to repeat their efforts for the benefit of the media, they changed their mind and forecast a win for Roy Hodgson's team. | But when they were asked to repeat their efforts for the benefit of the media, they changed their mind and forecast a win for Roy Hodgson's team. |
| Curator James Robson said: "Our Gentoos are really enthusiastic and love playing new games so have quickly got into the spirit of choosing the winning flags." | Curator James Robson said: "Our Gentoos are really enthusiastic and love playing new games so have quickly got into the spirit of choosing the winning flags." |
| The penguins have been examining the country's flags for each head-to-head game and choosing which they think represents the winning team by hopping on to the rock it is leant against. | The penguins have been examining the country's flags for each head-to-head game and choosing which they think represents the winning team by hopping on to the rock it is leant against. |
| When they are unable to choose a winner, they have been scrambling on to the middle ground. | When they are unable to choose a winner, they have been scrambling on to the middle ground. |
| Sarge and Oscar the macaws | |
| As members of a species native to South America, macaws Sarge and Oscar correctly predicted a win for Brazil in their opening match. | |
| However, they are less confident that England will be successful against Italy. | However, they are less confident that England will be successful against Italy. |
| "I do hope they are wrong [about England]," John Nattrass, bird keeper at working farm The Gincase in Silloth, Cumbria, said. | "I do hope they are wrong [about England]," John Nattrass, bird keeper at working farm The Gincase in Silloth, Cumbria, said. |
| The birds have been choosing the winners from two pots of feed marked with the different countries. | The birds have been choosing the winners from two pots of feed marked with the different countries. |
| "If their predictions are right, maybe I'll start putting some money on them," Mr Nattrass said. | "If their predictions are right, maybe I'll start putting some money on them," Mr Nattrass said. |
| Miniature donkeys Alistair and Derek | Miniature donkeys Alistair and Derek |
| Miniature donkeys Alistair and Derek are also hoping to become successors to Paul the octopus. | Miniature donkeys Alistair and Derek are also hoping to become successors to Paul the octopus. |
| The pair, named after the owners of Puxton Park, in Somerset, have been choosing between food boxes containing the flags of the competing countries. | The pair, named after the owners of Puxton Park, in Somerset, have been choosing between food boxes containing the flags of the competing countries. |
| Alistair and Derek sniffed out England as a worthy winner against Italy this Saturday. | Alistair and Derek sniffed out England as a worthy winner against Italy this Saturday. |
| Sarah Warren, head of park, said: "We're hoping their England prediction comes true and that we could have own very own Somerset World Cup psychics on our hands." | Sarah Warren, head of park, said: "We're hoping their England prediction comes true and that we could have own very own Somerset World Cup psychics on our hands." |
| Big Head the loggerhead turtle | Big Head the loggerhead turtle |
| It is not just English animals that have suddenly come over all Nostradamus. Host nation Brazil has been given a confidence boost from its chosen tipster - Big Head the loggerhead turtle. | It is not just English animals that have suddenly come over all Nostradamus. Host nation Brazil has been given a confidence boost from its chosen tipster - Big Head the loggerhead turtle. |
| Choosing to eat a fish hung from a Brazilian flag rather than a Croatian flag, the turtle correctly predicted Brazil would beat Croatia in the opening game of the World Cup. | Choosing to eat a fish hung from a Brazilian flag rather than a Croatian flag, the turtle correctly predicted Brazil would beat Croatia in the opening game of the World Cup. |
| A small crowd of onlookers at the Praia do Forte turtle sanctuary, north of Salvador, cheered in appreciation of the 25-year-old turtle's choice. | A small crowd of onlookers at the Praia do Forte turtle sanctuary, north of Salvador, cheered in appreciation of the 25-year-old turtle's choice. |
| The pundit's view | The pundit's view |
| Marketing expert Keith Hicks, from the University of West England, said the predictions should not be looked at as anything more than a "bit of fun". | Marketing expert Keith Hicks, from the University of West England, said the predictions should not be looked at as anything more than a "bit of fun". |
| "Most superstitions have a purpose and I think this is certainly to promote the World Cup," he said. | "Most superstitions have a purpose and I think this is certainly to promote the World Cup," he said. |
| "I think it is a bit of fun and like most of these things they become a tradition and it all adds to the mystique and fun of the competition." | "I think it is a bit of fun and like most of these things they become a tradition and it all adds to the mystique and fun of the competition." |
| Mr Hicks said that with tourist attractions "fighting their corner for the consumers' attention" they will inevitably use the appeal of animals and big events. | Mr Hicks said that with tourist attractions "fighting their corner for the consumers' attention" they will inevitably use the appeal of animals and big events. |
| "Good luck to them really, it is difficult to keep a zoo or aquarium and get interest in it and keep a science centre going, so all credit to them for exploiting people's interest in World Cups and animals," he added. | "Good luck to them really, it is difficult to keep a zoo or aquarium and get interest in it and keep a science centre going, so all credit to them for exploiting people's interest in World Cups and animals," he added. |
| Correction 23 June 2014: This article was amended after it emerged a photograph of a parrot had been provided to the BBC rather than the result-predicting macaws. |