A group of meerkats at Drusillas Park have successfully predicted both the quarter and semi-final results of the England’s Women's Euro 2022 games and have now predicted who will win the final against Germany.
Zookeepers at the park gave the meerkats two buckets of treats, each with a team flag on.
The bucket surrounded by the most meerkats is declared the predicted winner.
When asked to predict the quarter-finals with Spain they were spot-on - with the added pressure of having to do it as guests on Heart FM with Jamie Theakston and Zoe Hardman.
They did the same again for the semi-final against Sweden, predicting victory for the Lionesses.
Zookeepers are now hoping their 'mystic meerkats' have once again predicted the correct team to win the final - they've picked out England to win.
Zoo Keeper Jacinta Dawe said:
“Our team have been so impressed by England’s performances and team spirit, so it’s been great to get behind the squad and show our support. Although we wish both teams luck on Sunday - it would be incredible for The Lionesses to win as the meerkats have predicted!"
Jacinta continued:
"The mystic mob seem to be loving reigniting their psychic powers and now get excited when they see me arrive with the buckets and flags. The mob's matriarch, Tamu, is always first to the buckets letting everyone know what to do, and even our baby is joining in which is so lovely to watch!"
A spokesperson for the zoo admitted that it did seem like a strange activity for the meerkats, but it was actually part of the zoo's enrichment programme, which they say 'makes sure all the animals enjoy a diverse diet in imaginative and unusual ways'.
'The activities encourage them to think and work for their food as they would in the wild - and it's now become a bit of a tradition at the Zoo.'
Jacinta said, that when it came to predicting the winners of Sunday's final, Tamu and Joey were 'confidently in the England half'.
"Their teammates pushed forward and barely looked at the Germany bucket. The mystic meerkats started to climb inside the England bucket to really make their feelings known, with their little furry behinds sticking out!
"It was a clear England win, so much so that the mob toppled the England bucket to make their feelings crystal clear. The mystic meerkats are backing The Lionesses and are sure that football really is coming home - they haven’t been wrong yet so all eyes will be on the final on Sunday."
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