Animal Monogamy

[Monica]

After an incredible 115 years together two giant turtles at an Austrian zoo have gone their separate ways – refusing to share a cage any longer. The falling out, which has baffled the zoo officials, marks the end of the world’s oldest animal 'marriage'.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...lling.html

[Oldern]

I liked your post but I do not like that the female attacked the male

[Monica]

I liked your post but I do not like that the female attacked the male

Yeah me neither! I wonder what he did to get her so upset that she dumped him?

What's amazing to me is that they split after so long together. Surely these higher 2D entities have evolved to some sort of sentience and aren't just operating out of instinct. Their actions seem so...conscious.

Here's another one, this time swans:

Once thought of as pillars of monogamy in the animal kingdom, it appears the flame of love can burn out for swans as well. For the first time in 40 years, after following some 4 thousand swans at a reserve in the UK, researchers discovered one formerly blissful pair had called it quits. The bonds of instinct-driven matrimony were apparently not enough to keep the literal lovebirds together. While the split may not make headlines in the tabloids, it has stumped researchers who observed the swan drama...

While it may be confounding to some why this once happy pair called it quits, it's almost comforting to know that swans are capable of amicably moving on. Perhaps 'divorce' in the swan world is so rare not because of some hardwired instinct of monogamy, but instead it's been love keeping the rest of them together after all.

from http://www.treehugger.com/natural-scienc...chers.html

[Steppingfeet]

After an incredible 115 years together two giant turtles at an Austrian zoo have gone their separate ways – refusing to share a cage any longer. The falling out, which has baffled the zoo officials, marks the end of the world’s oldest animal 'marriage'.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...lling.html

Wow! The zoo officials fed them aphrodisiacs as well. Which is just as strange and funny that the authorities actually worked to rekindle the turtle romance. Maybe the officials should have considered showing video of other turtles procreating?

I would seriously love to see inside the thinking of those turtle entities though. It does have the feel of a conscious decision, or at least a decision. Thanks for sharing.

[Steppingfeet]

After an incredible 115 years together two giant turtles at an Austrian zoo have gone their separate ways – refusing to share a cage any longer. The falling out, which has baffled the zoo officials, marks the end of the world’s oldest animal 'marriage'.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...lling.html

I just shared this article with Steve who replied, "I thought I read somewhere that they finally reached the end of an argument that started 115 years ago.

I'll bet you anything that in another 115 years we'll see an article that the turtles have just called their lawyers to start the divorce proceedings."

[Patrick]

At least one of them just graduated into 3d.

[Monica]

At least one of them just graduated into 3d.

That's for sure.