'Shell' I Pay for Dinner | ZSL London Zoo's Pensioner Tortoise Knows How to Treat a Lady

London, England, United Kingdom, February 13, 2010 --(PR.com)-- He might be going on around 70 years old, but this isn’t stopping one of ZSL London Zoo’s oldest inhabitants from gaining a reputation as a ladies’ man – as these pictures captured by head of reptiles Dr Ian Stephen, show.

Dirk the Galápagos tortoise, who weighs in at an impressive 31 stone, is proving that age means nothing when it comes to romancing in the run up to Valentine's Day.

http://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/whats-on/giants-of-the-galapagos,381,EV.html

The sprightly tortoise who lives with his svelte young ladies, Dolly, 16 and Dolores, 14, didn’t even give bemused Dolly time to finish her meal or get out of the bath before she was seduced by the persuasive pensioner - much to the amusement of visitors.

Nicknamed ‘Dirty Dirk’ the Zoo’s Romeo and his Juliets can be seen daily at the Zoo’s Galápagos tortoise exhibit.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41537920@N03/4345708673/

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More pictures are available on request

Founded in 1826, the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is an international scientific, conservation and educational charity: our key role is the conservation of animals and their habitats. The Society runs ZSL London Zoo and ZSL Whipsnade Zoo, carries out scientific research at the Institute of Zoology and is actively involved in field conservation overseas. For further information please visit www.zsl.org.