Never has a tortoise moved so fast. Gulliver the love-sick reptile must have thought it was his lucky day as he was presented with not one, but two females

Despite not seeing another tortoise for more than 20 years, he knew exactly what he wanted and made a bee-line for the hard-backed animals, who although female are called Toby and Fred.

But three has always been a crowd and the menage a tortois came unstuck when Gulliver showed a liking for Fred, but it was Toby who was more interested in him.

And so started an amusing game of follow the leader as Gulliver chased Fred for all he was worth around owner Graham Orme's garden with the luckless Toby in hot pursuit.

Mr Orme said: "If you hadn't seen another tortoise for 20 years and then two turned up at once, I think you would move pretty fast, too."

He said he hoped other Hermann's tortoise owners would come forward and provide Gulliver with a playmate, even male.

Elaine Bates, who owns Toby and Fred, read of Gulliver's travels for love in the Evening Gazette.

Published Monday August 26, 2002

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