Curious scientists film rare tortoise with TWO heads after it was found and rescued by a tourist in south-western Turkey
- Tourist shocked after discovering two-headed tortoise in south-western Turkey
- The rare animal was taken to the Pamukkale University Biology Department
- It wouldn't have survived in wild according to experts in university's laboratory
A rare two-headed tortoise was filmed slowly crawling across a table by scientists after it was discovered in south-western Turkey.
The unusual animal was found by a tourist at the Pamukkale hot springs, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and called Nature Conservationists to alert them about the creature, according to local media outlet IHA on 11 November.
The footage shows the two-headed tortoise working together and moving in a synchronized manner to move themselves down the table, using their six legs.
A rare two-headed tortoise, which was found at the at the Pamukkale hot springs in south-western Turkey, was spotted by a tourist
Footage shows the unusual animal slowly crawling on a table, as scientists film the animal in their laboratory
The footage shows both tortoises working together and moving in a synchronized manner to move themselves down the table
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Incredibly the animal can be seen moving down the table in a slow and steady manner.
The two-headed tortoise would not have survived in the wild so it was taken to the Pamukkale University Biology Department.
Dr Eyup Baskale, a faculty member at the Pamukkale University Biology Department, said that although the tortoise has two heads it shares a digestive system with only one exit point.
In the wild, the survival chances of the estimated to be four-week-old tortoise would be very low which is why it is now being looked after in the university's laboratory.
The two-headed tortoise (above) would not have survived in the wild so it was taken to the Pamukkale University Biology Department
The researchers will study the tortoises closely as it is rare to get an opportunity to examine such a unique specimen.
Tortoises are interesting for science because they come in so many different sizes, with the Galapagos giant tortoise reaching up to 1.2 metres (3.9 feet) in length while the Speckled cape tortoise is just a few inches long.
The researchers have not yet specified what type of tortoise they believe the two-headed specimen may be.
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