KLAGENFURT, Austria — After 115 years, it’s just not working anymore.
That’s what zookeepers in an Austrian zoo are saying about Bibi and Poldi – a pair of giant tortoises who have spent their entire 115-year lives together, but who now refuse to share a cage together anymore.
According to a report in the Austrian Times, zookeepers have called in experts to try and give the pair “counseling,” including feeding them romantic food and trying to get them to participate together in joint games – but with no success.
“We get the feeling they can’t stand the sight of each other anymore,” said zoo official Helga Happ to the Austrian Times.
Happ says that the two had been together since they were young and grew up together, but like all good things the relationship seems to be coming to an end. Recently, Bibi attacked Poldi, biting off a chunk of his shell.
After several other attacks, Poldi was moved to his own cage.
“For no reason that anyone can discover they seem to have fallen out, they just can’t stand each other,” said Happ.
Experts say that despite the fact that they have no teeth, giant tortoises have a horn rimmed mouth and powerful jaws that are a potent weapon when they want to cause damage – and could potentially kill each other if they wanted to do so.
Zoo officials say that they are still hoping for a reconciliation.
Click here for more on this story from the Austrian Times.
