In Switzerland, a two-headed tortoise turned 25 thanks to extensive care. The animal lives in the Natural History Museum in Geneva, as it would hardly have survived in the wild.
“Janus” fell under the care of the museum in 1997 and celebrated its 25th birthday on Saturday. It is thanks to the caretakers that the turtle has reached this age. They wash “Janus” every day, regularly massage the animal, provide a special diet and monitor its general condition. On its birthday, the animal, named after the Roman god with two faces, was washed with a toothbrush.
Two brains and personalities
The Greek tortoise has two heads with two brains, which, according to museum employees, also have their own personalities. The right head is more dominant, the left more phlegmatic. Since the heads sometimes want to turn in different directions when walking, the nursing team constantly monitors “Janus” and, if necessary, moves him from his back to the prone position. The animal cannot straighten itself immediately.
The Greek tortoise would hardly have survived in the wild because the two heads cannot be pulled into the shell for protection due to lack of space.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
