THE TELEGRAPH (London, UK) 09 June 06 Tortoise leaves mate after 50 years
A tortoise has walked, very slowly, out of the life of her companion - for the first time in more than half a century.
Bert and Daisy were inseparable for over 50 years, until they were let out of their pen for a change of diet.
But while Bert chewed contentedly on clover, Daisy made a break for freedom and has not been seen since.
The tortoises' owner, Jonathan Bradley, of Combe Martin, north Devon, inherited the tortoises from the elderly relative of a friend and they have been together ever since.
"They have never been apart," said Mr Bradley, 55, adding that Bert was looking a bit forlorn.
Now the family, including his wife, Anne, 50, and nine-year-old daughter, Albany, have roped in friends and neighbours to scour the countryside around their home.
He said Daisy vanished during half-term and has appealed to anyone who comes across her to give the family a call on 01271 883344.
Meanwhile, in east Devon, Mach the tortoise has returned home after being separated from his partner, Zach, for the first time in around 25 years.
He vanished from his garden at Rewe, near Exeter, on May 10 and has just been found - having travelled a mere half a mile.
His owne,r Cynthia Court, 58, said today: "He vanished into a 16-acre field of peas behind our home and I thought he was lost forever.
"We got him back after putting a notice in the local parish magazine - but I am keeping an eye on him because he's always trying to find a way out of the garden."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/06/09/utortoise.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/06/09/ixnews.html
