Dead: Oracle octopus Paul

Psychic sensation Paul the octopus has died in his aquarium in Germany, announces Oberhausen Sea Life Centre.

BERLIN:

Paul the octopus, who shot to fame during this year’s football World Cup in South Africa for his flawless record in predicting game outcomes, has died in his aquarium in Germany.

“The management and the staff at the Oberhausen Sea Life Centre were devastated to discover that oracle octopus Paul, who achieved global renown during the recent World Cup, had passed away overnight,” said the aquarium in a statement.

“Paul amazed the world by correctly predicting the winners of all Germany’s World Cup clashes, and then of the final,” said Sea Life manager Stefan Porwoll. “His success made him almost a bigger story than the World Cup itself. We had all naturally grown very fond of him and he will be sorely missed,” said Porwoll.

Paul beat the odds during the World Cup by correctly forecasting all eight games he was asked to predict, including Spain’s 1-0 win over the Netherlands in the final. The fans need not despair too much at his death, though, as the aquarium has already been grooming a successor, to be named Paul like his mentor. Paul’s body is now in cold storage while the aquarium decides “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,” said Porwoll. “While this may seem a curious thing to do for a sea creature, Paul achieved such popularity during his short life that it may be deemed the most appropriate course of action.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 27th, 2010.