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© Reptilienzoo Happ

15. 06. 12. - 12:00

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15. 06. 12. - 12:00

Shelling Out

Michael Leidig

Wildlife experts trying to reunite a pair of giant tortoises who split up after a 115 year romance have shelled out 4,500 GBP - on a life-sized replica 'other woman.'

Keepers hope the model will put the passion back into the couple's love life at Reptilienzoo Happ in Austria.

The pair had to be separated after female Bibi attacked her partner Poldi and took a bite out of his shell.

Now zoo boss Helga Happ says the model should give Bibi something to take out her aggression on - and make her jealous enough to breed with Poldi.

But the plan initially backfired when randy Poldi tried to do what comes naturally with the realistic-looking dummy.

"We hoped that Bibi would take her aggression out on the model instead of Poldi but it doesn’t look like she's interested. She took one sniff and then went back after Poldi." said Helga.

"But we saw Poldi mount the model - so he seemed to like it," she added.

Now keepers are hoping that the model will gradually take the pressure of the couple - who hatched together as eggs - until they get over their spat.

"It's a long time to be together so it's no wonder they can't see eye to eye all the time," said one.

"We're just grateful that they put a model tortoise in there instead of getting one of us to dress up like those panda keepers in China.

"I don't think any of us fancy trying to fight off 100 kilos of sex starved male tortoise trying to mount us," they added.

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