Dirk the giant Galapagos tortoise becomes a father for the first time — at the age of 70

DIRK the giant Galapagos tortoise has fathered the first one to be born in Britain — at the age of 70.

The randy old-timer — named after well-endowed porn star Dirk Diggler from movie Boogie Nights — successfully mated with girlfriend Charlie, 49 years his junior.

And he has also made approaches to the two other females in his pen, Zuzu and Isabella.

Yesterday Crocodiles of the World zoo, in Brize Norton, Oxon, said: “The successful mating took place in November, but we aren’t sure exactly when as Dirk tries it on so often.

"But keepers put the eggs in incubation and the babies hatched 113 and 118 days after they were laid.

“The four adults have been at it all the time since they came to us in 2018.”

Dirk first arrived in Britain after being caught on the Galapagos Islands, in the Pacific, in 1962.

The species can grow up to 6ft long and can mate all year round — with males known for often making loud grunting noises.

A regular at the zoo said: “Dirk is well known for being up for it.

"He just can’t get enough.”

Jamie Gilks, the zoo’s head of reptiles, said: “He still has a healthy appetite for the opposite sex and from around December to March we would typically see Dirk mating daily.”

Zoo founder Shaun Foggett said: “We’re incredibly proud to have successfully bred these tortoises.

“They have previously been very close to extinction and still face an uncertain future.

"This is a significant achievement towards helping the conservation of the species.”

There are around 15,000 Galapagos tortoises in existence compared to 200,000 in the 19th century, when British naturalist Charles Darwin came up with the theory of evolution while studying how they had adapted to their surroundings.

They are famous for their size, and their long necks which help them reach vegetation.

The zoo’s babies, thought to be female, are currently the size of tennis balls and tip the scales at just three ounces each.

But they could grow to be 30st.