Meet Big Head, the 2014 FIFA World Cup psychic turtle

MOVE over, Paul the Octopus. The animal oracle predictions for the 2014 World Cup have begun, with host nation Brazil getting a vote of confidence from its turtle tipster.

A turtle named "Cabecao," or Big Head, swims in a pool in Praia do Forte, Brazil, Tuesday, June 10, 2014. The turtle, Brazil's answer to German octopus Paul who started the psychic animal craze during the 2010 World Cup, predicted Tuesday that the host nation will beat Croatia in the opening game of the World Cup on Thursday. (AP Photo/Lucio Tavora, Agencia A Tarde)

THE animal oracle predictions for the World Cup have begun, with host nation Brazil getting a vote of confidence from its chosen turtle tipster.

By making a patriotic choice of food, loggerhead turtle Big Head predicted today that the host nation will beat Croatia in the opening game of the World Cup on Friday (EST).

Big Head is Brazil’s answer to Germany’s Paul the Octopus, who started the psychic animal craze during the 2010 World Cup and spawned a slew of imitations around the world.

At the Praia do Forte turtle sanctuary north of Salvador, the 25-year-old male sea turtle was given the choice between eating a fish hung from a Brazilian flag or a Croatian flag.

After attempting to eat the fish hung from a football indicating a draw, Big Head chose the one representing Brazil.

The small crowd of onlookers cheered in appreciation of Big Head’s choice.

Original and the best. Paul the Octopus doing his thing in 2010.

Last week, China put forward its unofficial nominee to succeed Paul, with the Chengdu Research Base in Sichuan province “inviting” a panda cub to predict matches during the World Cup.

Apparently, the panda will either climb trees carrying the flags of different teams or choose between two pieces of food, much like Paul the Octopus once did.

Paul correctly predicted the results of every match Germany played at the last FIFA World Cup, along with the result of the final. He developed a cult following in the process.