A TORTOISE called Darwin has been donated to the Cotswold Wildlife Park by the Seychelles Government.

Darwin, part of a conservation project with the Seychelles National Botanical Gardens, is the first tortoise the Seychelles have given to the UK.

A 25-year-old Aldabra Giant Tortoise – he is relatively young for the species, which can live up to 150 – and becomes the fourth at the park. He was officially handed over on Wednesday.

Reptile keeper James Reynolds said: “It has been talked about for a few months, so for him to arrive is really good.

“We are very excited about the prospect of Darwin becoming a father with our other tortoises. If we can breed them it will be a first for the UK.

“Aldabra tortoises were almost extinct because people used to hunt them for food, but there have been a lot of breeding programmes going on in the Seychelles since then.

“They are doing really well now.”

Aldabra tortoises are native to the Seychelles, can weigh up to 250 kgs and, at the park, are fed on stinging nettles, dandelions, thistles and clover – and the odd carrot.