So maybe the tortoise doesn’t beat the hare, at least not in the marriage department.
Two 115-year-old turtles have split up after 36 years together, People reports. The decades-long love affair seems to have soured between Bibi and Poldi, two giant tortoises at Austria’s Reptilienzoo Happ.
Things are far from amicable between the two former lovers. According to the Austrian Times, Bibi, the female turtle, has become so sick of her companion that she attacked him, biting off a long part of Poldi’s shell. Poldi has now been moved to another cage after several other attacks, Mother Nature Network reports. While giant tortoises have no teeth, they have large and powerful jaws that can cause great pain.
Workers at the zoo say they have tried everything from counseling to romantic food to bonding games, but it seems these two have decided to go their separate ways. Helga Happ, the zoo’s boss, said she has never seen anything like this before with turtles.
“We were told that it’s very rare that after so many years animals who are a pair will fall apart, but that’s where we are. We hope though we can bring round a reconciliation,” Happ said.
For now, Bibi and Poldi will live apart, and turtle fans must cross their fingers for a potential reunion.