Animals 'Predict' 2014 World Cup Winning Teams

They're baaack — in zoos around the world, animals are taking to the field — or at least, the tank or the food bin — to predict the results of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

At the last World Cup in 2010, an Octopus named Paul in Germany correctly "predicted" the outcome of 12 out of 14 soccer games. Sadly, Paul died in October 2010, but other animals are taking his place as World Cup prognosticators, BBC News reported.

In Brazil, a sea turtle named Big Head swam toward a goal bearing the host nation's flag, successfully predicting Brazil's victory over Croatia (3-1) in the World Cup's opening game.

And in China, a panda named Ying Mei also pegged Brazil as the victor when it choose to eat from a box of food labeled with the Brazilian flag.

But not everyone is thrilled about the idea of animals participating in these whimsical forecasts. Officials have banned panda cubs at China's Chengdu Center from participating in the stunt, saying that too much contact with humans would be harmful to the pandas, according to BBC News.

Follow Tanya Lewis on Twitter and Google+. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+.