The Real Ninja Turtle

Minka the Russian tortoise and Chestnut the box turtle have a common wall between their enclosures.  A few months ago, I started finding Chestnut on Minka's side happily engaging in what he thought was mating behavior.  According to photos I've seen, he had the correct general idea.  His hind feet wrapped around her hind legs--check.  His body nearly vertical and then a slight tilt backward--check.  The rapt expression--check.  But no contact.  Perhaps someone should have shown him the photos because Minka is just not built the same way a female box turtle would be. 

Despite the obvious lack of rewards, he just won't quit.  Getting to Minka means scaling a cinder block wall that I have gradually been increasing in height just to make sure that he stays on his side, then a drop of more than two feet into her side of the enclosure.  Until yesterday, we weren't even sure if he was indeed climbing or if he had found a chink in the wall somewhere.  I just happened to look out the family room window and Eric managed to catch the culprit in the act:

See the little stinker on top of the red brick near the fence?

His efforts earned him a quick trip back to his side of the pen and additional bricks added to the wall.  We'll see how long that holds him!