New mate for zoo's giant tortoise

Biggie came to the zoo in 1975 and is its only male giant tortoise

Biggie Smalls, Bristol Zoo's resident giant tortoise, is to be introduced to a new mate.

Matilda, a young Aldabran giant tortoise who has not bred before, is due to arrive from London Zoo as part of a conservation breeding programme.

At 2.5 stone (16.1kg) she is tiny in comparison to Biggie's weight of 27.6 stone (175kg).

Matilda, who is eight years old, was seized by customs after being smuggled into Britain as a baby.

Her shell measures 1.4ft (45cm) long and 1.1ft (34cm) wide.

Breeding hopes

Biggie, meanwhile, is estimated to be around 80 or 90-years-old, and measures 3.5ft (107cm) long and 2ft (64cm) wide.

"There's certainly a size issue right now," said Lucy Parkinson from the zoo.

Matilda will be too small to mate with Biggie for a few years

"We hope that they will get together in a few years as Matilda is still too small for Biggie right now."

Reptile experts believe Biggie still has many years of breeding potential left in him as giant tortoises can live to be more than 150 and can grow up to 39.4 stone (250kg).

Tim Skelton, curator of reptiles at Bristol Zoo Gardens, said: "The arrival of Matilda is a great addition to our giant tortoise collection and it would be great if Biggie and Matilda bred in future."

Matilda joins Bristol Zoo's current two adult female giant tortoises, Twiggie and Helen.

She was given an X-ray at London Zoo before being getting the all-clear to travel.

Vets confirmed that the tortoise, who had been being smuggled illegally into Britain as a baby, is "happy and healthy and ready for her first 'legal' journey".

Biggie, the zoo's only male giant tortoise, was donated by Bristol University in 1975.

He was named by a keeper who was a fan of Christopher Wallace, better known as rapper Notorious BIG.