Halifax’s beloved 104-year-old tortoise is recovering after a successful surgery

Advertisement

Advertise with us

HALIFAX - Halifax's beloved 104-year-old gopher tortoise, Gus, is recovering after a successful surgery.

Read this article for free:


By clicking the button above, an account will be created and you will begin to receive some of our recommended newsletters. You may opt out of any newsletter by visiting your Email and Communication Preferences page or by clicking "unsubscribe" at the bottom of any email.

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Digital Subscription

One year of digital access for only $1.44 a week*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles

*Billed as $5.77 plus GST every four weeks. After 52 weeks, price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

To continue reading, please subscribe:

Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional

$1 for the first 4 weeks*

  • Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
  • Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
  • Access News Break, our award-winning app
  • Play interactive puzzles
Start now

*Your next Brandon Sun subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $17.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.

HALIFAX – Halifax’s beloved 104-year-old gopher tortoise, Gus, is recovering after a successful surgery.

Believed to be the oldest living gopher tortoise, Gus underwent a procedure to remove a bladder stone on Tuesday.

The Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History, where Gus lives, says he is now resting comfortably in private and will remain with a veterinary care team for 48 hours.

Gus’s many fans will have to wait up to 10 weeks before they can see him in public.

The museum says it will continue to share updates on his recovery.

In the two weeks since the museum first shared news of Gus’s surgery, he has received hundreds of letters, get-well cards and pieces of art.

Meanwhile, the museum’s social media accounts have received thousands of messages from around the world.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 14, 2026.

Gus, a 104-year-old gopher tortoise, is fed a supper of bananas, lettuce and strawberries by Heather McKinnon Ramshaw, co-ordinator of animal care at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
Gus, a 104-year-old gopher tortoise, is fed a supper of bananas, lettuce and strawberries by Heather McKinnon Ramshaw, co-ordinator of animal care at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese
History

Updated on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 3:30 PM CDT: Adds video

Report Error Submit a Tip

More Stories

Puzzles Palace

1 minute read Friday, Oct. 16, 2026

To solve our puzzles, please subscribe with this special offer: |

Hydro is getting ahead of itself

Tim Sale 5 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

Manitoba Hydro is pressing ahead with its proposed $3-billion gas-turbine project in Brandon as though approval was a foregone conclusion.

The sweet spot

Gabrielle Piché 3 minute read Preview

The sweet spot

Gabrielle Piché 3 minute read Updated: 12:50 PM CDT

The early birds got their cookies.

Klaudia and Jayson Ballantyne were the first in line for the grand opening of Winnipeg’s first Crumbl location at 1570 Regent Ave. West, arriving at 2 a.m. Friday — six hours before the cookie chain was set to open.

The brother and sister brought their lawn chairs and blankets and hunkered down.

Roughly 90 minutes later, by their count, the next customers arrived.

Read
Updated: 12:50 PM CDT

Reynolds exerts ‘maximum effort’ to boost Winnipeg after quick meet with mayor

Gabrielle Piché 3 minute read Preview

Reynolds exerts ‘maximum effort’ to boost Winnipeg after quick meet with mayor

Gabrielle Piché 3 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 8:13 PM CDT

Ryan Reynolds wasn’t wearing his Deadpool suit, but that didn’t stop Mayor Scott Gillingham from wanting to talk about films with the Vancouver-born Hollywood movie star.

Reynolds, who appeared at IG Wealth Management's 100th anniversary celebration Wednesday at the RBC Convention Centre, took to social media afterward, sharing a photo of himself with Gillingham and trumpeting the province’s tax incentives.

“An incredible place to shoot,” the Instagram post read.

On Thursday, Gillingham said the actor, best known for portraying an irreverent, erratic anti-hero on the big screen, is a “really nice gentleman.”

Read
Updated: Yesterday at 8:13 PM CDT

Persistent ex much more than just a pest

Maureen Scurfield 4 minute read 2:00 AM CDT

DEAR MISS LONELYHEARTS: I came home alone in my own car after a first date with a great new guy I met through my work. Unfortunately, I found my ex-boyfriend in the driveway of my new rental house. He’d fallen asleep in his car, waiting there.

I just lost it! I banged on his window, and yelled, “What are you doing here? Get out of here, and go home!”

He finally sat up, rubbed his eyes and two minutes later he backed out, yelling crude names at me out the window. Then he took off like a shot!

I found out today that somebody we both know told him I was out on a date. That’s why he was drunk and jealous! I want to get rid of him for good, but now he’s not taking my calls, so I can’t even tell him that and re-ditch him!

Masked, armed robbers terrorize elderly residents inside Crestview home

Erik Pindera 3 minute read Yesterday at 3:13 PM CDT

Several masked and armed suspects forced their way into a home on Lake Ridge Road in Winnipeg’s west suburbs late on Monday, terrorizing the elderly residents as they robbed the place.

Winnipeg Police Service major crimes investigators, who are asking the public for assistance, are trying to identify the suspects and learn about their movements in the area before and after the robbery, said police spokesman Const. Stephen Spencer.

“It would definitely help to have some more information as to who the individuals are. It would be great if somebody had video of the individuals prior to arriving at this location, when they weren’t wearing face coverings, or after,” said Spencer.

“If neighbours in the area maybe noticed something suspicious, around the Lakeridge Park area… around that time of night, if they did see something suspicious, definitely come forward — it could be helpful with solving this case.”