21 August,2010 08:09 AM IST | | Agencies
A psychic crocodile named Harry tipped Prime Minister Julia Gillard to win the razor-tight Australian election, siding with pollsters and bookmakers and an octopus called Cassandra.
Harry, a feisty five-metreu00a0 saltwater croc, took several minutes to decide before snapping up a chicken labelled with Gillard's picture, snubbing another carcass representing opposition chief Tony Abbott.
"Harry came over to the area, he lifted his head in the air and he nailed Gillard," said Nigel Palmer, Harry's handler at Darwin's Crocosaurus Cove attraction.
"So we're thinking he's predicted the ranga (red head) to win the election."
Gillard can take heart from the endorsement after the crocodilian clairvoyant also correctly picked Spain to win last month's World Cup final against the Netherlands.
"Harry selected Spain over the Netherlands, so he knows what he's doing," Palmer explained.
Staff at the park were inspired to test Harry's prescience by German octopus Paul, who shot to global fame after correctly calling eight World Cup games including the final.
Harry, a 750-kilo beast, is 45 years old and in his prime, his keeper said, with an aggressive streak and a reputation as a handler hunter.
5 metres
Length of Harry a saltwater crocodile living at Crocosaurus Cove attraction
