Zoo shell-shocked as tortoises call it a day

A marriage between two 115-year-old giant tortoises has ended — but at least they won’t have to shell out on solicitors’ fees.

Giant tortoises Bibi and Poldi can no longer stand each other’s company at an Austrian zoo and are now refusing to share a cage.

It is thought the fallout ends the world’s longest marriage and was sparked by a biting incident

“We get the feeling they can’t stand the sight of each other any more,” said zoo boss Helga Happ.

Bibi and Poldi have resided at the Austrian zoo in Klagenfurt for 36 years, having moved together from Basel zoo in Switzerland.

The pair, both 115 years old, grew up together — and eventually became an item.

Officials at the zoo belive Bibi, the female, lost her temper and bit her husband, removing a small part of his shell.

“For no reason that anyone can discover, they seem to have fallen out. They just can’t stand each other,” said Ms Happ.

Apparently Bibi continued attacking her partner until zoo officials decided to separate them, despite efforts to rekindle their romance by feeding the tortoises “romantic, good-mood food”.

Tortoises have been known to live for 150 years or more, so hope prevails that the couple will patch things up.

Ms Happ said: “We have staff talking to and trying to engage the two in interacting, and we hope that they might find their harmony again. 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.”