Gus, a cherished 104-year-old gopher tortoise, is being showered with affection and good wishes from well-wishers worldwide as he prepares for surgery. Jeff Gray, the Museum of Natural History manager in Halifax, where Gus resides, shared that numerous letters, cards, and artworks have poured in since the announcement of Gus’s upcoming bladder stone surgery. The museum’s social media platforms have also been inundated with thousands of messages from supporters in Canada and beyond, all expressing their hopes for Gus’s recovery.
Gray expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support, noting the deep connection people feel with Gus. Visitors, spanning generations, have fond memories of encountering Gus at the museum. Believed to be the world’s oldest gopher tortoise, Gus has been a fixture at the Museum of Natural History since 1942 when he was acquired for a mere $5 in Florida. Regularly taking leisurely walks around the museum, Gus captivates visitors both indoors and outdoors, often basking under a heat lamp in his sandy enclosure.
Ahead of his surgery, Gus will temporarily halt his public walks to recuperate privately at the museum for a few weeks. The surgery, set for Tuesday, aims to address a bladder stone issue that was first identified in 2009. Advancements in veterinary procedures now allow for the stone’s removal through a small incision in Gus’s leg, a less invasive approach compared to previous methods.
Despite the risks associated with surgery, the museum staff and Gus’s medical team are optimistic about his prospects for a healthy future. Notably, bladder stones are common in tortoises, and while surgeries on reptiles over a century old are rare, the procedure has shown success in similar cases. Gus’s advanced age of 104 is a testament to the care and security provided in captivity, safeguarding him from the perils faced by wild tortoises due to human activities.
As Gus gears up for his surgery, supporters and well-wishers continue to rally around him, eager for his return to his daily walks post-recovery.