Published: February 4, 2011
Well, friends, look no further than predictions made by endangered animals.
Pebbles, the prognosticating penguin at The Florida Aquarium put its prescient abilities on the line this morning, wobbling to the logo of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The bird did some impressive broken field running, weaving through the legs of some reporters and photographers before stopping and staring at a Steelers laminated logo long enough to declare Pittsburgh the penguin's pick.
The laminated logo was held by Pebble's handler, Jason Donnell, a biologist at the aquarium who, coincidentally, grew up a Steelers fan, though he swears he exerted no influence on his protégé. The endangered African black-footed penguin at first couldn't decide and steered clear of both the team emblems.
At 2 1/2 years old, Pebbles is no stranger to making predictions. Two years ago, he picked the Steelers in Pittsburgh's 27-23 last minute win over the Arizona Cardinals at Raymond James Stadium, his handler said.
"Other than that," Donnell said, "he's about 50-50."
At precisely the same time, at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Hugh and Buffet, a pair of manatees who share a tank, were up to the same guessing shenanigans. But their choices on Super Bowl winners didn't clear anything up.
Getting animals to predict sporting outcomes has gained popularity in recent years, and the practice gained popularity with Paul the octopus, whose psychic abilities consistently picked winners of the World Cup soccer matches last year.
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