MISTLETOE?

It may not have been mistletoe dangling above the head of the female Speke’s Hingeback Tortoise, but the male made sure he capitalised on her slight entanglement amongst the brush. After following the female along the pathway at Exeter River Lodge, the pair eventually came to terms with their natural reproductive urges, and on a number of occasions I might add. As expected the slightly smaller male mounted the larger female from behind, resting his forelegs on her carapace. The duration of each contortion lasted only as long as the male was able to hold his grip as the female continued feeding on the surrounding vegetation.

Posted: Exeter Lodges by Andrew van den Broeck, Date: 16 January 2012