Geneva, Sept. 2 (U.S.): Angelica Burgoyne stroked Janus’ shell, whispering softly to him as he spins his pen, preparing his head to celebrate his 25th birthday.
Janus, who also has two hearts, two lungs and two different personalities, didn’t survive long in the wild because he couldn’t pull his head back into his shell to seek shelter from predators, Reuters reports.
But at Geneva’s Natural History Museum, where he was born in 1997, Bourgoyne and her team of caretakers – who believe it is the world’s oldest bipedal turtle – can cater to all of his needs.
They feed him an organic salad and give him daily massages and baths with green tea and chamomile. For exercise, he goes on regular walks, sometimes with music, and rides on a specially made skateboard.
“I think it’s because of the attention we give him and our dedication that he is still around today,” Burgoyne said.
Janus, a Greek turtle named after the two-headed Roman god of beginnings and transitions, also has a special party looking forward to this weekend.
But not everything is easy to navigate.
He’s under constant surveillance in case he flips over, which could be fatal, and he survived a bladder stone operation in 2020. And his head needs periodic treatment with Vaseline to keep them from ulcerating when rubbed together.
His character also generates different temperaments and tastes that can sometimes lead to conflict, for example over which direction to go.
“The right head is more curious, more awake and has a much stronger character. The left head is more passive and likes to eat,” Burgoyne said, adding that one head was partly for geometry and the other for carrots.