Tortoises Divorcing After 115 Years Together

Tortoises divorcing (Photo: Reptilien Zoo Happ)

Two giant tortoises at an Austrian  zoo are divorcing after 115 years of being together.

"We get the feeling they can't stand the sight of each other anymore," zoo's director Helga Happ told the Austrian Times.

Tortoises Bibi and Poldi, have been together since they were young, eventually growing up to become a bonded pair. But recently, Bibi has been attacking Poldi, biting off a chunk of his shell,  which prompted zoo staff to transfer him in another enclosure.

"But for no reason that anyone can discover they seem to have fallen out, they just can't stand each other," said Happ.

The zoo management has asked the help of animal experts to give the pair counselling - feeding them romantic good mood food and trying to get them to join in joint games - but to no avail.

"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 added.

Tortoise Couple Calls It Quits After 115 Years Together

Tortoise couple Bibi and Poldi

Two Giant Turtles at an Austrian  zoo are separating after 115 years of being together.

"We get the feeling they can't stand the sight of each other anymore," zoo's director Helga Happ told the Austrian Times.

Bibi and Poldi, have been together since they were young, eventually growing up to become a bonded pair. But recently, Bibi has been attacking Poldi, biting off a chunk of his shell,  which prompted zoo staff to transfer him in another enclosure.

"But for no reason that anyone can discover they seem to have fallen out, they just can't stand each other," said Happ.

The zoo management has asked the help of animal experts to give the pair counselling - feeding them romantic good mood food and trying to get them to join in joint games - but to no avail.

"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 added.

Photos courtesy of Reptilien Zoo Happ

California Wolverine Caught On Camera

California wolverine photographed in the Sierra

A California wolverine was spotted in the Sierra by a hiker who took a picture of the rare protected species.

David Messa reportedly saw the wolverine while camping near Lake Spaulding in May.

"He was like a bull in a china shop running across that lake. He just probably feared nothing,” Messa told Fox40. "He was kind of galloping; actually fell through the snow two or three times, turned around and came back, and came across in front of me. I was actually able to get a photo."

Messa's wolverine sighting marks only the fourth time the creature was photographed in California. Tina Mark, a Tahoe National Forest biologist, said it was "miracle."

"The fact that one showed up in our backyard, not too far from human habitation to me is a miracle.  It's like finding a needle in a haystack," Mark told Fox40.

Wolverines have not been scientifically confirmed in California since the 1920s. In 1998, a photo taken by a motion-sensitive camera on the Tahoe National Forest, the third documented sighting in Ca, provided a verifiable evidence of a wolverine in California.

The wolverine is the largest terrestrial member of the weasel family. Adult males weigh 26 to 40 pounds, while females are 17 to 26 pounds. It resembles a small bear, with a bushy tail and broad head. The wolverine's diet includes carrion, small mammals, birds, insects, berries, and fungi.

U.S. populations are found largely in the Northern Cascades in Washington, the Northern Rockies in Montana and Idaho, and in Alaska. Wolverines have large home ranges that vary greatly depending upon gender, age and food availability.