Gus the gopher tortoise has been a resident of the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History in Halifax since 1942. While his actual hatching day is lost to history, August seems like a good time for celebration. “So it’s an average time, mid-August, for when the turtles start hatching from their eggs,” said Liz Spence, one of the museum curators who cares for Gus. “But also a good time for visitors to come. So we could host a lot of people for such a gathering.” In 1942, the director of the county’s provincial museum purchased Gus from a Florida pet store for the modest sum of $5.

Reverse Snowbird

Because snapping turtles are endangered in Florida, he would not be allowed to migrate today. Gus the turtle turned 100 in 2022, or at least close to it. (Jack Julian/CBC) Gus’ birthday has been a museum event since the early 1980s. In the early days, Gus had free range of the museum’s galleries. Old photographs show its shell polished by the hands of curious visitors. WATCHES | Gus’s 58th birthday party and stories of a mysterious disappearance: Today, the children are still happy to accompany him on his daily walks, but touching is not allowed. This year, Gus’s party will last an entire weekend, with twice-a-day singing of Happy Hatch-Day To You and carefully arranged plates of Gus’ favorites: blueberries, bananas and romaine lettuce.

Birthday treats were ignored

In the birthday choir at 11 a.m. on Friday, dozens of children sang at the top of their lungs while Gus sat motionless on a square of beige carpet, blinking occasionally and ignoring the food. Spence says he usually wakes up in the afternoon.
“He never slowed down in his speed. He was always consistent with his diet,” he said. “And just a great personality, a great mind. He always wants to go for walks.” It’s an impressive display of consistency from the oldest turtle of its species on record. Gopher tortoises live from 40 to 80 years in the wild. Gus the turtle receives provincial recognition on his 100th birthday. (Jack Julian/CBC) “I’m optimistic for many, many more years from Gus,” Spence said. After the birthday bash, Gus’ guests asked Spence lots of questions, including when he falls asleep (8 p.m.), how he bathes (in a few inches of water), and how well he digs (very well; he works on a burrow in the museum lawn ). Spence showed off a display of vintage Gus memorabilia in the lobby, including a letter from a Galapagos tortoise in 1979, a tin Christmas ornament, pins, magnets and a limited-release local root beer.

A thriving business

Today the gift shop is going strong on Gus’ birthday merchandise — t-shirts and bags are almost sold out. Pins and stickers are still available. Spence makes sure Gus is compensated for the use of his image. “He gets his pay in bananas and lettuce. That’s how he likes to get his cut,” Spence said. Anyone who wants to wish Gus in person can go on Saturday and Sunday for his birthday appearances at 11am. and at 2 p.m. After that, Spence says you can catch Gus around 3pm. on his daily walk.