Gus turns 100: Halifax museum to celebrate beloved tortoise’s birthday this weekend
A tortoise that has lived in Nova Scotia museums since the 1940s is turning 100 this month.
The Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History is ringing in Gus the Gopher Tortoise’s birthday with three parties on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. each day.
“It’s a chance for people to come in and celebrate all things Gus,” said museum manager Jeff Gray.
The weekend celebrations will also include special turtle crafts, museum tours and birthday cupcakes in honour of Gus.
Gus was born and raised in Florida at the Ross Allen Reptile Institute in Silver Springs, Fla.
In 1942, Don Crowdis, the director of the Nova Scotia Provincial Museum, bought Gus for $5 and brought him back to Canada.
For many museum visitors, Gray says part of Gus’s appeal is his longevity.
Gus, the resident gopher tortoise at the Museum of Natural History, walks on the lawn as he celebrates his 90th birthday at the museum in Halifax on Sunday, August 12, 2012. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan)
“We have a lot of grandparents who come with their grandchildren, who will remember coming to see Gus when the museum was over on Spring Garden [Road],” said Gray.
After a century of life, Gus can be a bit of a curmudgeon, but Gray says he is still open to meeting new people.
“Being around new people never seemed to bother him,” he said.
In his more than 80 years at the museum, Gray says Gus has likely had millions of interactions with different people.
“It’s always wonderful to have new people see Gus for the first time,” said Gray.
While the life expectancy of gopher tortoises in the wild ranges between 40 to 80 years, Gus being in captivity has likely contributed to his old age, said Gray.
“We never really know how long he will be with us, so we try and celebrate every day with Gus.”
Carrie Drake, naturalist interpreter at the Museum of Natural History, carries Gus, the resident gopher tortoise, as he celebrates his 90th birthday at the museum in Halifax on Sunday, August 12, 2012. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan)
Some of his favourite foods are berries, lettuce and bananas, but when he’s strolling the museum grounds outside, dandelions and grass are on the menu.
In June, the museum opened a small exhibit so people can learn more about the time Gus has spent at the facility.
To learn more about Gus, or the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, you can visit its website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.
Closing arguments heard in trial for Sask. dad accused of abducting daughter
Closing arguments were heard Thursday morning in the case of Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter in 2021 to keep her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.