Henry, at 111, becomes a first-time dad

HATCHED: One of Henry's offspring at Southland Museum.

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Henry, the famous 111-year-old tuatara from Invercargill, has finally become a dad.

Nine of 11 eggs laid by his lover Mildred hatched at the Southland Museum at the weekend, with the remaining two due last night.

The baby tuatara, whose ancestors go back 220 million years, were all running around and doing well, chuffed museum tuatara curator Lindsay Hazley said.

Henry, a resident at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery since 1970, hit the world headlines in March when he finally proved his manhood at age 111. Mildred subsequently laid 12 eggs, with 11 surviving.

Henry had been uninterested in sex for the entire time he had been in captivity. He had been well-known for his aggression and for 15 years was kept in solitary confinement because he did not get on with other tuatara. But after a cancer growth was removed from his bottom he finally got in the mood.

Mr Hazley said he was "over the moon" that Henry had finally become a father.

"After 36 years of looking after Henry I was chuffed about the mating, then the eggs hatched and now, after nurturing them for 223 days, we have got the results.

"I have done lots of eggs before but these are just special because they are Henry's."

He had rushed back from holiday for the births, with museum staff looking after the tuatara in his absence, he said.

"They were rushing around like clucky old midwives."

As for Henry, he didn't have a clue that he had his own children, Mr Hazley said.

"If he saw the babies and they came close they would be lunch."

Henry's newfound confidence means he is now living with three women. He is expected to get cosy with Lucy in April.

Mr Hazley said Henry's babies should be on display at the museum within a week. About the same time, three hours of videotaped coverage of the tuatara hatchings should be available on the museum website www.southlandmuseum.com.

There were now 72 tuatara at the museum, including 42 babies, Mr Hazley said.