Hard to believe

[jsheffield]

A friend sent me this article this morning, since I've been posting pictures of my new Redfoot, Darwin.

https://blog.nationalgeographic.org/2013/02/01/how-did-a-tortoise-survive-30-years-in-a-box/

It's basically a story (that was widely reported at the time and never shown to be a hoax, I googled to make sure he wasn't messing with me) about a redfoot tortoise that was "lost" for 30 years, and found in a box when a family was cleaning out a shed after the patriarch of the family died.

National Geographic seems a credible source to me in general, but the timespan seems too long to be believed ... they quote a vet who says that RFs can go 2-3 years without food, and that this one could have survived 30 years on termites and condensation.

Thoughts?

Jamie

 

[dsgncore]

i've read about this and it said that the tort survived because of the condensation inside the box, and also ( possible ) by eating termites. But that was just all assumptions. ( i don't remember which article )

 

[T Smart]

It was getting pizza delivered the whole time.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I have first hand experience of a RF not eating for a very long time.
But that story sounds a little too good to be true.
Redfoot are tough.
I don't think it could've survived that long without sunlight.
I vote NO.

 

[TechnoCheese]

I hope it’s false. Spending 30 years in a box sounds terrible

 

[Bee62]

I think it`s only a fake news. 30 years witout UVB and warmth ???? No !

 

[dsgncore]

I did a bit of research and turned out it was not a red foot...it was master Oogway.