111 Year-Old Finally Proves Manhood
18 Mar 2008
One of New Zealand's oldest residents is finally in the mood...and there are photos to prove it.
Henry the tuatara has been caught on film having sex in a public place and he is not the only one with a smile on his face.
The Invercargill tuatara, longtime resident at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery, put on a brilliant performance for curator Lindsay Hazley, reviving hopes for the breeding programme.
For the past two months Henry has been shacked up with three female tuatara, to no avail. But it was Mildred, a 'prolific breeder' who is several decades younger than Henry, who finally managed to win him over.
"I'm just totally chuffed at what I've been trying to get from old Henry ever since I started looking after him," Hazley said.
"It's a major, major thing ... he's never mated in his life in Southland that we know of."
Henry has been with the museum since 1972 and had never shown an interest in mating. However, when he did show interest, he made sure it was noticed - tuatara mate at night and Hazley said until he witnessed Henry and Mildred in the act last week he had never before seen tuatara mating during the day.
Twice in the past Henry bit off Mildred's tail when attempts were made to breed the pair.
Should Henry and Mildred produce offspring they would bring genetic diversity into the museum's breeding programme, Hazley said.
"He's looking out there with a wee smirk on his face now."
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