Eli the ape predicts Seahawks will win Super Bowl

ASSOCIATED PRESS

11 years ago

Eli the ape at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City has predicted the Seattle Seahawks will be the winner of Sunday’s Super Bowl over the Denver Broncos. Eli has correctly picked the Super Bowl winner for six straight years. (AP Photo/Hogle Zoo)

Eli the ape at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City sits Thursday with the papier-mache Seattle Seahawks helmet she chose over a Denver Broncos helmet, predicting Seattle as the winner of Sunday’s Super Bowl. (AP Photo/Hogle Zoo)

SALT LAKE CITY — A Utah ape that has correctly picked the Super Bowl winner for six straight years predicted Thursday that the Seattle Seahawks will be the next NFL champion.

Eli the ape ran into an enclosure Thursday morning and swiftly knocked down a papier-mache helmet bearing the Seahawks logo, signaling his pick, said Erica Hansen of Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City.

“He made his pick without any hesitation,” Hansen said.

That could mean bad news for Broncos fans. The 13-year-old primate hasn’t been wrong since 2006.

Last year, Eli charged out and knocked over a papier-mache goal post decorated with the Ravens logo. Sure enough, the Ravens beat the 49ers 34-31.

Eli’s pick this year drew mixed reactions from his team of zookeepers that include avid Broncos fans.

“They are hoping that this is his first wrong year,” Hansen said.

After he made his prognostication, Eli was joined by his mate, Eve, and daughter, Acara, and allowed to smash, play and eat the papier-mache helmets.

Hansen said interest and excitement about Eli’s Super Bowl pick has increased as his streak grows. This year, people have been asking daily when he’s making his pick.

“He’s better than the Vegas odds-makers,” Hansen said.