There is one fundamental difference in the way that the death of Paul, the octopus who predicted the 2010 World Cup results, is being reported in Italy and Britain: while the British papers continue to name Paul’s birthplace as Weymouth, England, the Italians are sure that he was Italian.
After all, the octopus even had citizenship, the residents of Marina di Campo on Elba, in whose waters Italians believe he was born, having declared “Pier Paolo” an honorary citizen during a special festival to mark his six month birthday in September.
“Pier Paolo, octopus vulgaris” as he is described on his citizenship certificate, passed away at the Oberhausen Sealife Aquarium on Monday night. His keepers are said to be devastated, as indeed, are the inhabitants of Marina di Campo.
Although Paolo officially “retired” after the World Cup, his fame continued to spread. He was also an honorary citizen of O Carbellino in Galicia, Spain.
