WHEN he had his leg amputated, vets thought Gamera would be even slower and steadier than the proverbial tortoise.

But instead he's got every chance of overtaking the hare - after his missing leg was replaced with a swivelling wheel.

The 12-year-old African tortoise had a caster-style wheel attached to his shell by doctors at Washington State University's veterinary hospital after they had to amputate his badly injured leg.

The 10.5kg tortoise, called Gamera after the giant flying turtle in old Japanese monster movies, is now gaining weight and thriving with his artificial leg.

Gamera's owner brought him to the hospital in April, suffering from a severe leg injury with an unknown cause.

Vets said it was life-threatening, so they amputated his front right leg at the shoulder.

They attached the wheel using an epoxy adhesive, and Gamera took to his new leg straight away.

As it swivels like a castor, it allows Gamera to move well on both flat and lumpy surfaces, like lawns.

Gamera is particularly good at moving towards food, and has put on 1.5kgs in weight since the wheel was attached, according to the hospital's spokesman, Charlie Powell.

He said: "I don't know whether he'd pass the hare, but he moves around very well."

Gamera is part of a larger group officially known as sulcata tortoises, which are popular as exotic pets.

The oldest known tortoise in captivity is 56-years-old, and the biggest one on record weighed just over 105kg.