Good Loving Brings You Out of Your Shell!

The moment I ran across the rather unusual but bitter-sweet case of Timmy the 60 year-old Hermann tortoise, the popular Beatle's song, "All you Need is Love" immediately came to mind.

Having been uprooted from his previous home of 20 years when his former owners immigrated to New Zealand, Timmy was luckily adopted by the Tortoise Garden Sanctuary in St Austell Cornwall three years ago. Opened 20 years ago by tortoise lovers, Joy and Geoff Bloor, the facility takes care of 450 tortoises of 15 different species in their 60 enclosures, and even has a special retirement home set up for their elderly residents as old as 120 years old.

However, no matter how hard she tried, Joy was unable to facilitate a successful introduction between Timmy and their other resident tortoises. She says, "I've tried introducing him to the other tortoises but they don't seem to like him and bully and fight with him." So this shy little guy sadly had to be separated from the others and placed in his very own private enclosure.

But Joy, who was concerned about Timmy's delicate emotional state and need for companionship, came up with a clever and creative solution: since he did not get along with living members of his species, she bought him a plastic replica named Tanya with whom, after a "blind date," he instantly was smitten.

Tanya's presence has a tremendous influence on Timmy's behavior. Joy says, "If I want him to go into his hut at night time I have to put Tanya in there first otherwise he won't go." She added,"Tanya's only the third of the size of him but he doesn't seem to mind. He's much happier when it's just the two of them."

To make things sweeter, Timmy dotes on Tanya, bringing her food, which of course she doesn't eat, but so what?! After all, when one is in love, it's the thought behind the gift that really counts, and it's always better to give than receive!

I think this really proves that love does make the world go 'round, don't you? Share your reaction to the story by leaving a comment and watch the charming video of Timmy and his beloved Tanya!

Video Source: jonmillsswns