Global General

Madrid zoo bids to buy Octopus Oracle from Germany

(Agencies)
Updated: 2010-07-16 14:25

Germany's so-called oracle octopus Paul, swims in front of a mock soccer World Cup trophy in his tank at the Sea Life Aquarium in the western German city of Oberhausen July 12, 2010. [Agencies]

MADRID - The Madrid Zoo has made an offer to buy Paul, the octopus who became a pop culture sensation by correctly predicting the outcome of as many World Cup matches as he has legs - all seven of Germany's games plus the Spain-Netherlands final.

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The zoo said it received dozens of requests from Spaniards for Paul's transfer from a German aquarium after Spain won the World Cup last Sunday.

Zoo spokeswoman Amparo Fernandez said Wednesday that an unspecified amount of money was offered for the purchase of Paul, now a hero in Spain.

The zoo said in a statement that it was expecting a response within days from the Sea Life aquarium in Oberhausen, Germany. Sea Life did not immediately comment, asking a reporter to send questions by e-mail.