Parrots prophesy: ​​Tip for Mexico: Leipzig Zoo launches animal World Cup oracle

The endangered South American birds continue the zoo’s tradition of animal oracles at World Cup and European Championships. The “Arakel” – as the zoo calls it – can choose between two balls made of willow branches with the flags and country names of the respective teams on them. “There was no food in it. It’s just about curiosity,” explains zookeeper Florian Ullmann, who is jointly responsible for the South America area at the Leipzig Zoo.

“Arakel” is used before Germany games

Blue-throated Macaws are highly intelligent. The animals in the Leipzig Zoo are still young and therefore particularly playful and curious. After today’s dress rehearsal, the “Arakel” will be used before the Germany games in the future. The German national team will play its first game at the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico next Sunday evening against Curaçao.

The blue-throated macaws are threatened with extinction in their native South America, Ullmann continued. The birds are only native to a small area of ​​Bolivia. There they are having increasing difficulties finding sufficient breeding grounds and food. For this reason, Leipzig Zoo focuses on this species, among others. At the European Football Championship in Germany two years ago, the Californian sea lions took on the task of oracle.