Foreplay May Take Years but Centenarian Is to Be a Father Now

In Invercargill on New Zealand's South Island, the Southland Museum and Art Gallery has had an outdoor "tuatarium" since 1974. But it is understood one tuatara, who has been named Henry, has actually lived in the museum since 1970.

Henry is said to be 111 years old. He has now mated with 80-year-old companion Mildred and 11 of her eggs are expected to hatch in six months, ABC News reported on August 7.

Tuatara can only be found in New Zealand. They are the only existing members of the order Sphenodontia, represented by many species during the age of the dinosaurs some 200 million years ago. Aside from the tuatara, all of these species became extinct some 60 million years ago.

Southland Museum curator Lindsay Hazley said Henry hadn't been interested in sex until he had a cancerous tumor removed, "but since the operation his hormones have been raging," Hazley was quoted as saying.

"With these guys foreplay might take years. One has to be patient," Hazley was quoted in the New Zealand Herald this week.

Southland Museum and Art Gallery is at 108 Gala St, Invercargill, Southland, New Zealand. The museum is open daily (except Christmas Day) from 9am to 5pm weekdays and from 10am to 5pm weekends. Entrance is free.

Photo: Henry, courtesy Tourism Southland