Super Bowl picks: youngest Ore. Zoo orangutan likes Indianapolis

Youngest Ore. Zoo orangutan likes Colts

PORTLAND, Ore. — If you trust a rodent to predict when winter will end, how about an ape to guide your Super Bowl winner selection?

The Oregon Zoo’s youngest orangutan, Kutai, showed no hesitation Friday in selecting an Indianapolis Colts T-shirt during the annual football forecasting event at the zoo.

The zoo says Kutai has predicted the winner in four of the past five Super Bowls, including the New York Giants’ win over the New England Patriots in 2008. His only loss came last year when he incorrectly picked the Arizona Cardinals over the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Similar to Punxsutawney Phil’s yearly predictions on the arrival of spring, the zoo’s orangutans have been predicting Super Bowl outcomes.

Matriarch Inji was 6-1 at one point in picking winners, but has become less reliable in recent years. Still senior primate keeper Dave Thomas says she has excuses — Kutai once took every shirt for one team, forcing Inji to select the opposition.

Inji and third orangutan Batik picked New Orleans this time.

Information from: KPTV-TV, www.kptv.com/