HIS real name is Travis but after he showed his hooking skills during a media photo shoot at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary yesterday he has been nicknamed Codrescu, in honour of Queensland and Australian Rugby League rake Greg "Turtle" Codrescu.

The media gathered from far and wide for the shoot, which featured Titanettes cheerleader Catherine McInnes, new Titans recruit Anthony Don, a fleet-footed fullback-winger, and Travis, a 40-year-old Mary River turtle.

It is not a bad life for this terrific Testudine, getting photographed with a beautiful woman and a classy footballer by day and playing Casanova to his harem at night.

The Mary River turtle is an endangered species and Cornescu is the cornerstone of a breeding program at the sanctuary.

In posing for the accompanying photograph, Travis displayed distinct hooking skills, or was he just striving to get back to the turtle boudoir?

Enough already about the happy hooker of a turtle and more on his two "props" at the photo shoot.

McInnes's brains match her beauty - she has just completed her second year studying for a degree in wildlife and marine biology, while Don was there because Titans media manager Adam Gardini discovered somehow the footballer keeps two pet turtles at the family home in Tugun.

"We've named them Marty and Meg, after two family friends," Don said.

"I just love watching them. They are great characters and have become part of the family."

McInnes departs the country for Nepal this morning with a group of fellow Griffith University students.

They will spend six weeks doing field research work in Chitwan National Park.

Chitwan is the first national park in Nepal and was established in 1973.

It covers an area of 932 square kilometres and is located in the subtropical Inner Terai lowlands of south-central Nepal, in the Chitwan District.

"We'll be handling and studying much bigger animals than Travis," McInnes said.

"The National Parks Service over there has set up large plots for various animals, so we'll be studying the habits of rhinoceros, elephants and tigers.

"Handling Travis today was a piece of cake compared to what awaits us."

McInnes has been an ardent member of the Titanettes for two years.

"I have always loved football and watching the action from so close to the sideline is fantastic," she said.

"But the most pleasing aspect of being a Titanette is mixing with the fans.

"They accept us as being part of the team and that makes us all feel very proud."