England draw predicted by Rocky the raccoon - 19/06/12

The match result predictions of a ‘psychic’ raccoon at Bristol Zoo Gardens have taken a less patriotic turn as he has forecast a draw in tonight’s Euro 2012 match with Ukraine.

For the third time since the European Championships began, Rocky the raccoon has made his choice after being offered three pots with equal amounts of food, one marked ‘England’, another with ‘Ukraine’ and a third with ‘draw’.

After a ‘rocky’ start last week when the raccoon predicted an England triumph against France – a game which resulted in a 1-1 draw - Rocky went on to correctly pick England to win Friday’s game in the European Championships.   

To see a video of Rocky making his prediction, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z58i7ORCVf4

Now his keepers are hoping his prediction will prove correct, as a draw tonight would be enough to secure England’s safe passage through to the quarter finals.

One of Rocky’s keepers, Mat Richards, said: “Obviously a win from England would be ideal, but a draw will be enough to get us through to the next round, so we are hopeful that Rocky will once again prove correct in his prediction.”

News of Rocky’s ‘abilities’ is growing and the Zoo’s star has so far appeared on national television, radio and print, as well as in the world’s media.  

Rocky’s prediction follows on from the success of Paul the Octopus, who correctly predicted the outcome of all seven of Germany's matches during the 2010 World Cup. Whether Rocky will have the same winning streak is yet to be seen.

When he’s not predicting football results, Rocky stars in Bristol Zoo’s ‘Amazing Animals’ shows alongside creatures including lemurs, meerkats, an armadillo, a kookaburra and a macaw parrot. Rocky and his ‘creature colleagues’ can be seen at the Zoo every day at 12noon and 2pm (weather permitting).

Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on the generous support of the public not only to fund its important work in the zoo, but also its vital conservation and research projects spanning five continents.

For more information about visiting Bristol Zoo Gardens, visit the website at www.bristolzoo.org.uk or phone 0117 974 7300.

ENDS

 Notes to the Editor:

Bristol Zoo Gardens

• Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day. 
• Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on income from visitors and supporters to continue its important work. 
• Bristol Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species. 
• Itemploys over 150 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work. 
• Bristol Zoo supports – through finance and skill sharing - 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
• In 2011 Bristol Zoo celebrated its 175^th birthday. Over that past 175 years, the Zoo has brought six generations of Bristolians closer to wildlife, helped save over 175 species from extinction, established over 30 field conservation and research programmes all over the world, showed 40 million school-aged children the wonder of nature and given more than 90 million visitors a wonderful day out.
• In 2010 Bristol Zoo Gardens set up a Conservation Fund to raise vital funds to help care for threatened animals and plants – both in the Zoo and through the conservation work we do in the UK and around the world.
• Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.