Sad day for the betting community
Paul the psychic octopus, who became a pop culture sensation by correctly predicting the outcome of eight World Cup matches, died on Tuesday at the age of two years, Oberhausen Sea Life Center, where Paul lived, said.
"Paul amazed the world by correctly predicting the winners of all of Germany's World Cup clashes, and then the final," the Sea Life Center's website quoted the head of the aquarium, Stefan Porwoll, as saying.
An octopus's life expectancy is approximately three years.
Paul, who was believed to be born in January 2008 at the Sea Life Cenete in Weymouth, England, was retired from his oracle career after his glorious predictions of the World Cup tournaments sparking waves of numerous bids for his purchase from all over the world.
The Russian National Association of Bookmakers wanted to purchase Paul for 100,000 euros, the Madrid Zoo offered Oberhausen's Sea Life to exchange Paul for any of its animals. But the sea center did not accept any offers for the octopus.
On August 20, Paul was awarded as an official "ambassador" to England's 2018 World Cup bid.
The eight-legged oracle's only political opponent, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his address to the nation, criticized Paul saying European countries were spreading "western propaganda and superstition."
The Sea Life Center's website said that Paul's body was being held in cold storage while the management decided how best to mark his passing.
"We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine," the website cited Porwoll as saying.
The management of Oberhausen Sea Life Center is likely to create a memorial dedicated to the octopus's life.
"We will show the most significant and thrilling moments on a screen [in the memorial]. Moreover, we will establish an exhibition of the gifts sent to Paul from all over the world...and also will display a casket with Paul's ashes.
Paul the psychic octopus, who became a pop culture sensation by correctly predicting the outcome of eight World Cup matches, died on Tuesday at the age of two years, Oberhausen Sea Life Center, where Paul lived, said.
"Paul amazed the world by correctly predicting the winners of all of Germany's World Cup clashes, and then the final," the Sea Life Center's website quoted the head of the aquarium, Stefan Porwoll, as saying.
An octopus's life expectancy is approximately three years.
Paul, who was believed to be born in January 2008 at the Sea Life Cenete in Weymouth, England, was retired from his oracle career after his glorious predictions of the World Cup tournaments sparking waves of numerous bids for his purchase from all over the world.
The Russian National Association of Bookmakers wanted to purchase Paul for 100,000 euros, the Madrid Zoo offered Oberhausen's Sea Life to exchange Paul for any of its animals. But the sea center did not accept any offers for the octopus.
On August 20, Paul was awarded as an official "ambassador" to England's 2018 World Cup bid.
The eight-legged oracle's only political opponent, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in his address to the nation, criticized Paul saying European countries were spreading "western propaganda and superstition."
The Sea Life Center's website said that Paul's body was being held in cold storage while the management decided how best to mark his passing.
"We may decide to give Paul his own small burial plot within our grounds and erect a modest permanent shrine," the website cited Porwoll as saying.
The management of Oberhausen Sea Life Center is likely to create a memorial dedicated to the octopus's life.
"We will show the most significant and thrilling moments on a screen [in the memorial]. Moreover, we will establish an exhibition of the gifts sent to Paul from all over the world...and also will display a casket with Paul's ashes.
