SYDNEY, July 5 (Xinhua) -- One of Australia's most-loved reptiles, Hugo, the giant Galapagos tortoise, has been declared fit and healthy following the 68-year-old's annual health check-up.
Keepers at the Australian Reptile Park in Sydney said on Friday they are confident that Hugo is ready for the arrival of prospective mate, Estrella, when the couple meet later in the year.
"We couldn't be happier with today's results and we're glad to see he's as fit as a fiddle," zookeeper Daniel Rumsey said.
Weighing in at 178 kg, there's plenty of Hugo to love and being part of a vulnerable classified species means he gets a lot of attention.
When he arrived for his check-up, veterinary staff rushed out to greet Hugo who was only too happy to receive neck scratches and plod his own way into the surgery.
"Some animals tend to be a bit tricky at the vet, but Hugo laps up any attention and neck scratches he can get," Rumsey said.
Due to their vegetarian diet and mostly sedentary lifestyle, Galapagos tortoises can live for around 175 years, which makes Hugo barely middle aged.
Tests showed that Hugo is fit and healthy, and ready to meet Estrella, who will fly to Australia from Germany later this year to take part in a breeding program.
Now that he has been given the all clear, Hugo will return to his duties at the park which includes eating, taking walks, and getting his neck scratched, until his long-awaited soul mate finally arrives.
