Psychic Indian elephant set to rival Paul octopus
AFP Thu Jun 07 2012, 00:37 hrs
Citta predicts the result of the opening game of the Euro 2012 soccer championships between Poland and Greece. The elephant picked the melon pointing Poland as the winner of the game on June 8. (AP)
Paul the amazing clairvoyant octopus may be dead but now he has a worthy heir, a Polish-based Indian elephant named Citta.
Weymouth-born but German-based Paul went down a storm during the last European Championships and the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with his remarkable ability to predict the winners of various matches, mostly involving Germany.
And although he has passed onto pastures new, Krakow based elephant Citta has taken over the baton and so far has a 100 percent record. According to zookeeper Jerzy Pirog, Citta correctly predicted the outcome of the Champions League final last month and has now been put to the test to predict the results of Poland’s group matches.
The co-hosts open their Group A campaign against Greece on Friday and according to Citta, they can expect to win. Presented with a choice of three melons, each set out in front of either the Polish flag, the Greek one or a banner proclaiming a draw, 33-year-old Citta scooped up the one in front of the Polish flag.
Whereas Paul the Octopus was the original self-made psychic, Citta had to come through an X-Factor style competition to earn her chance.
But having beaten off competition from a parrot called Kuba and Black Mary the donkey, Citta is being trusted with the vital role of showing the way for betting coupons up and down the country.
“Everything happened before the final of the Champions League between Chelsea and Bayern Munich,” said Pirog, a vet who specialises in monkeys and birds. “We did this test with the elephant, an African Grey Parrot and a donkey. “The donkey and the parrot decided the winner would be Bayern Munich but only the elephant got the right winner, so we decided she’s got psychic powers.”
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Schedule
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June 28, 00:15 hrs
ESP v/s 
POR -
June 29, 00:15 hrs
GER v/s 
ITA
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Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and teammates Leonardo Bonucci react after losing the Euro 2012 soccer championship final between Spain and Italy in Kiev, Ukraine. (AP)
Fans of Spain celebrate Spain's victory over Italy in their Euro 2012 final soccer match held in Kiev, at a fan park in Malaga, southern Spain. (Reuters)
Spain's goalkeeper Iker Casillas celebrates with his team mates after defeating Italy to win the Euro 2012 final soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Kiev. (Reuters)
