Pianist’s music fails to put tortoises in the mood

By: 12 years ago

French pianist Richard Clayderman plays the piano to Galapagos tortoises Dirk, aged 70, and Polly, in an attempt to put the reptiles in the mood to mate, at London zoo, Thursday Feb. 7, 2013. AP Photo/PA, Lewis Whyld)

Britain Music for Mating — French pianist Richard Clayderman plays the piano to Galapagos tortoises Dirk, aged 70, and Polly, in an attempt to put the reptiles in the mood to mate, at London zoo, Thursday Feb. 7, 2013. AP Photo/PA, Lewis Whyld)

LONDON— No wonder they’re endangered.

Galapagos tortoises at London’s zoo lumbered around impassively as famous French pianist Richard Clayderman serenaded them with music from his latest album, “Romantique.”

The music — an attempt Thursday to put the reptiles in the mood to mate — appeared lost on the slow-moving giants.

Even a rousing rendition of “Chariots of Fire” did little to lift the tortoise’s spirits. They only seemed to perk up when zookeepers brought them some carrots.

Galapagos tortoises are the largest in the world and can live for over 150 years. But the gentle animals have struggled to fend off predators and are now under threat.

Clayderman said that it was “funny to be here.”