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PETA Calls for Retirement of Punxsutawney Phil: Should Groundhog Day Replace the Iconic Weather Predictor with a Giant Coin?

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PETA is advocating for the retirement of Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog known for predicting the weather in the U.S. every year.

The animal rights group has written a letter to Tom Dunkel, the president of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, asking them to replace the traditional groundhog with a big coin on Groundhog Day, which happens on February 2nd.

PETA expressed that the person being referred to is not an expert in meteorology and should not be taken advantage of annually for the sake of generating tourism revenue.

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PETA made a request to the club in 2022, suggesting the use of a persimmon tree for weather prediction instead of relying on Phil.

According to PETA president Ingrid Newkirk, Phil is skilled in digging tunnels, searching for food, and living in accordance with his natural instincts, rather than being knowledgeable in meteorology.

According to Newkirk, PETA wants to assist the groundhog club in starting a more compassionate February 2nd celebration by allowing Phil, along with his companion, to be relocated to a trustworthy sanctuary. This way, Phil can live without any concerns, without being handled and spun around, and have the opportunity to engage in natural behaviors that are currently restricted in his Plexiglas enclosure.

Since 1887, people from both the local community and tourists from different places have been going to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to witness the emergence of Phil. This small furry creature comes out of its temporary dwelling and depending on whether it sees its shadow or not, it predicts either six more weeks of winter or an early spring.

The film titled Groundhog Day, featuring Bill Murray as a frustrated weatherman trapped in a repetitive time cycle, was made available to the public in 1993.

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