Back in the early 80’s a Brazilian family, living in Rio were renovating the family home. That was when Manuela the tortoise disappeared.
He had accidentally been swept up in a box and put aside in a spare room. That room was never cleared and year on year more junk accumulated. 30 years on the father passed away and the family decided to get together to finally clear the room. That was when a passing neighbour happened to spot the long lost pet in an old record box amongst the rubbish.
Amazingly Manuela managed to survive 3 lonely decades in cramp conditions and only ever seeing light once in a blue moon. How did this pet survive for so long? Experts are stumped, but the family are just glad to have little Manuela back.
Manuela the tortoise who spent 30 years in a box! (Image source: National Geographic)