Bizarre Animal Chooses Copa America SF Winners

Story By: Alex Cope,Sub EditorJoseph GolderAgencyGolder’s News And Sport

Video Credit: Golders

This bizarre pig-like animal – actually a tapir- has correctly predicted the results of Chile’s last three matches in the Copa America and has chosen them to beat Peru in the semi-final tonight.

The tapir, named Manolo, has correctly predicted Chile’s last three results in the tournament after eating out of the bucket with winner’s flag attached to it before the matches.

In the video, a zookeeper at the Buin Zoo in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago in Chile can be seen showing how two buckets, one bearing the Chilean flag and another with the flag of neighbours Peru on it, are stuffed with vegetables for the tapir to eat.

Pictures Credit: Golders

Manolo is then released into the enclosure and he walks towards the buckets, heading to the bucket with the Chilean flag on it and tucking into its contents.

The tapir predicted Chile’s victories over Colombia and Ecuador and defeat to Uruguay in the same way, only failing to predict the country’s opening match victory over Japan.

Chile, led by Manchester United’s Alexis Sanchez, take on Peru tonight with the winner facing hosts Brazil in the final.

Chile have won the last two Copa America finals and are favourites to reach the final this time around over Peru.

Tapirs inhabit jungle and forest regions in South America, Central America, and Southeast Asia and their diet mainly consists of fruit, berries, and leaves.

Local media have compared Manolo to Paul the Octopus, a common octopus used to predict the results of matches at the 2010 World Cup by choosing a box containing food with a country’s colours on it. 

In all, Paul, who was kept at the Sea Life Centre in Oberhausen, Germany, amassed an overall record of 12 correct predictions out of 14 at the World Cup.

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