27 Oct 2010

Farewell to Paul, our football-loving octopod.

I don't know if you saw this on the news yesterday... but football-loving-octopus-lovers are in mourning:


I'm not usually into football-related topics outside of the World Cup... but I had so much fun with the Paul stories this summer that I can't help but feeling a bit sad. :o(  Spaniards wanted to adopt him (to save him from ending up on a German bbq after Spain's semi-final victory against the Germans), they even put him on their flag:


And I managed to get my English students interested in a news report when I did a listening exercise based on a YouTube video showing Paul's prediction in favour of Spain! 

He was so much a part of my World Cup fun last summer that I adopted my own little Pol the Octopod at the Mallorca Aquarium. He won't be making football predictions, but he has been named the mascot of my new travelling blog! After all, you'd thing eight legs are better than two for travelling around the world! ;o)


Apparently Paul will be cremated, and the Aquarium in Germany has a "new Paul" ready to take up residence in the tank (octopi are always very popular in aquaria). Even here in Liège they've been talking about dipping into the football prediction game since we received our very own octopus from the Antwerp aquarium last month!


Farewell Paul, may you enjoy an endless supply of mussels from here on out!

More info (and videos) on this BBC page.

7 comments:

  1. I saw this, Cris, and I felt bad about it, too. He will live on in the hearts of all of us who knew him. And BTW, I loved your amazing pictures on the last post. I got behind and didn't have a chance to comment.

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  2. I heard about this new - very sad. I heard he was 3 yrs old (seems young to die). What kind of life span to Octopi typically have?

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  3. DJan, you can always comment even days later! I get e-mails telling me when there's a comment, you do as well, right?

    And yeah, sad! ;o(

    DIve Girl. you've got me there! I have NO idea! But females less than males I'd guess since they usually guard their nest with the eggs until the eggs hatch and then they might be too weak to hunt and can actually die of hunger...
    But I seem to remember hearing in the reports that that was a decent old age for an octopus...

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  4. That was so sweet of you to write about Paul, I remember your posts from when he was ALL the news, lol. May he rest in peace.

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  5. Rhonda, I had so much extra fun during the World Cup thanks to him, how could I not take a moment to remember him? ;o)

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  7. Glad you enjoyed it Football!

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Hey there! Yes you! The quiet one in the back... I'd love it if you hung out for a bit and shared your thoughts!

I might stop by your place with an answer, but I'm more likely to reply right here so click on "email follow up comments" if you'd like to see what I and others have to say and come continue the conversation! ;o)