Nova Scotia’s most beloved reptile is now 100 years old, or close enough for a party.
Gus, the gopher tortoise, has resided at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History in Halifax since 1942. Although the day of his hatching is lost in history, August seems like the right time to celebrate- it
“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 it’s also a good time for visitors to come. So we could host a lot of people for a meeting like this.”
In 1942, the director of the province’s provincial museum bought Gus from a Florida pet store for a modest $5.
Snowbird upside down
Because burrowing tortoises are endangered in Florida, they would not be allowed to migrate today.
Gus the gopher tortoise turned 100 years old in 2022, or at least close to it. (Jack Julian/CBC)
Gus’ birthdays have been a museum event since the early 1980s.
In the early days, Gus had free range of the museum galleries. Old photographs show its shell polished by the hands of curious visitors.
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Today, children still enjoy accompanying him on his daily walks, but are not allowed to touch them.
This year, Gus’ party will last an entire weekend, with two daily rounds of Happy Hatch-Day To You singing, and carefully arranged dishes of Gus’ favorites: blueberries, bananas and romaine lettuce.
The ignored birthday delights
At the 11 a.m. birthday party on Friday, dozens of children sang at the top of their lungs as Gus sat motionless on a square of beige carpet, blinking occasionally and ignoring the food.
Spence says he usually perks up in the afternoon. \
“He’s never slowed down in his speed. He’s always been consistent with his diet,” he said. “And just a great personality, a great mood. He always wants to go for a walk.”
It’s an impressive display of consistency from the oldest turtle of its species on record. Gopher tortoises live 40 to 80 years in the wild.
Gus the tortoise receives provincial recognition on his 100th birthday. (Jack Julian/CBC)
“I have hope for many, many more years of Gus,” Spence said.
After the birthday chorus, Gus’s 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 he digs (pretty well; he’s working in a den on the museum lawn).
Spence displayed a display of vintage Gus memorabilia in the lobby, including a 1979 letter from a Galapagos tortoise, a pewter Christmas ornament, pins, magnets and a limited-edition local root beer.
Booming business
Today the gift shop is doing brisk business with Gus’s 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 paid in bananas and lettuce. That’s how he likes to take his cut,” Spence said.
Anyone wishing to wish Gus in person can stop by Saturday and Sunday for his birthday appearances at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
After that, Spence says you can catch Gus around 3pm on his usual daily walk.