Photo Gallery Euro 2012 Animal Oracles Seek Perfection
Animals everywhere are trying their hands -- or rather, their paws, hooves and fins -- at correctly predicting the results of Euro 2012 matches. The otter duo Mörmel and Ferret have a perfect score so far, having correctly picked Germany to win its three group-stage matches. This particular image shows Ferret at work.
Germany isn't the only country getting into the oracle act. Indeed, several countries that aren't even eligible for the tournament have also gotten into the act. Like Singapore, with Big Huat the fish. Big Huat incorrectly chose Sweden to beat England in a group-stage match.
Prior to the tournament, much of the animal oracle hype centered on Yvonne the cow, who achieved fame by escaping her slaughterhouse fate and remaining at large for months last year. Befitting her stubbornness, she has chosen against Germany three times, and been wrong each time. Here, she is sharing some Portuguese feed with her son Orki.
This year's plethora of prognosticators comes thanks to Paul the octopus, who correctly predicted the outcomes of all seven of Germany's World Cup matches in 2010 in addition to the final between Spain and Holland.
Nelly the elephant is another of this year's oracles who has yet to miss the mark. Here, she scores a goal on the Denmark goal, correctly predicting Germany's victory in the teams' final group-stage match.
Speedy and Snow White, a pair of ferrets, had a rough start this year, incorrectly picking Portugal to beat Germany in the tournament opener. Since then they have been correct in their predictions, however.
Xaver the bulldog has also been perfect on his predictions for Germany's group-stage matches. But it is unclear just how reliable his forecasts are. For his first prediction, he had to choose between two German sausages and a bottle of Portuguese red wine. Not surprisingly, he went for the sausages.
Emma, a Hungerian Mangalitza pig, is three for three as well -- a record perhaps made easier by the fact that Hungary wasn't in the tournament this year.
Funtik is the official Ukrainian oracle. Not surprisingly given his size, he makes his predictions by choosing between two bowls of food.
Spain was the primary beneficiary of Paul the Octopus' success in the 2010 World Cup. Now, the Sea Life Aquarium in Benalmadena, Spain has come up with an octopus oracle of its own.
Citta, the Polish elephant oracle, proved not to be a good luck charm for the co-hosts. Despite picking Poland to win twice, the team was unable to live up to her high expectations and was eliminated in the group stage.
Tik, a seven-year old seal in Bangkok, has also been trying his flippers at forecasting Euro 2012 results. Here, he chooses Greece to win its opening match against Poland. He was half right -- the teams played to a draw.
