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Posted by Wes von Papineäu on December 30, 2000 at 10:45:19:
THE SUN (London, UK) 30 December 00 The Tortoise & The Heir (Michael Lea)
Photo: Tiny miracle ... Egbert hatched in cupboard (Andrew Styczynski)
Two romantic reptiles became the proud parents of a miracle tot-oise — after trying for a baby for 35 years.
Pet tortoises James and Sam stunned owner John Coward with their new arrival because he thought they were both MALE.
He had to hurriedly change Sam's name to Samantha after stumbling across her eggs.
John, who has had Samantha for 50 years and James for 35, said: "I was digging the garden a few months ago when I unearthed a clutch of eggs.
"It's incredible one has hatched — and a great Christmas present."
Retired John, 76, placed two eggs in a box of sand.
He then stored them in his airing cupboard for warmth. John kept a watchful eye on the eggs for months before they finally hatched.
One was deformed and died but the other — matchbox-sized Egbert — is doing well.
John added: "They must have been going through the motions for years but because they never produced anything I thought both must be male."
Tortoise eggs will not hatch in this country unless they are incubated.
It became illegal to import tortoises into Britain in 1984, and they are now so rare they fetch up to £1,000 each.
It is legal to buy and sell captive-bred tortoises — as long as they have a microchip placed in their shell and the owner has a certificate.
John, of Barnes, South West London, must keep Egbert in a heated nursery for two or more years.
It will be five years before he can be left to hibernate during winter.
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