Support pours in for tortoise ahead of surgery

Halifax residents and supporters worldwide are rallying behind Gus, a 104-year-old gopher tortoise slated for surgery to remove a bladder stone. The beloved tortoise, considered the oldest of his kind, resides at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax where he has lived since 1942. Jeff Gray, the museum manager, has received hundreds of get-well cards and messages of support since announcing the surgery.

Gus, believed to have hatched in 1922, has become a beloved fixture at the museum, often taking afternoon walks around the grassy yard and exhibits. Visitors, including eight-year-old Spike Cooper, have been seen feeding him strawberries and basking under a heat lamp.

The decision to perform surgery comes after veterinary scans revealed the stone has grown and is now pressing on nearby tissue. Gray explained that in 2009, the first scan indicated the stone's presence, but recent advancements in veterinary surgery now allow for a less invasive procedure via a small incision in Gus's leg.

Carolyn Koslowski and Pia Pirzer, university students on exchange from Germany, were among the latest to meet Gus, with both expressing admiration for the tortoise's cuteness and hope for a successful surgery. Gus's long life, typical of captive tortoises, underscores the importance of such medical interventions in ensuring their well-being. Despite the risks inherent in any surgery, Gray and the veterinary team remain confident in Gus's prognosis and his future in captivity.