African Spurred Tortoise

Meet Methuselah, who was named after the longest-lived man in history. According to Genesis 5:27, Noah’s grandfather Methuselah lived 969 years. While tortoises don’t live that long, they often reach ages over 100 years old. Methuselah hatched in 2010, so he’s still young.

Methuselah is an African spurred tortoise, sometimes called a sulcata tortoise. Sulcata comes from the Latin word sulcus, meaning “furrow,” referring to the furrows on their beautiful shells. The spurs on their legs help them dig tunnels over 10 feet deep to hide from the heat of the sun. They are native to the southern Sahara Desert and Sahel (the region where the Sahara Desert meets the savannah) of Africa. They are herbivores and can go their entire lives without drinking water because they get enough from the plants they eat. African spurred tortoises are the third largest tortoises in the world, growing up to 250 pounds. Only the island-dwelling Galapagos and Aldabra tortoises are larger.

Methuselah lives at the Eden Zoo at the Creation Museum, but another African spurred tortoise resides at the Ararat Ridge Zoo at the Ark Encounter. Munch was originally the mascot of a local library where he participated in reading programs for children. While the library staff did a great job caring for him, he grew too large for them to house, so he was donated to our zoo. Born in 2012, Munch already weighs over 100 pounds, so he needs a lot of room to roam!

Methuselah is a rescue. He was a former pet, and the owners were not prepared to care for him properly. Unfortunately, his growth was stunted, and his shell developed some deformities. Additionally, he has muscle damage in his rear legs. To combat this, he did physical therapy for many years. One method was securing him on a skateboard to support his body weight while he exercised his legs. Another method was swim therapy, where he was placed on a block in a shallow pool. He kicked his legs in the water with his weight supported by the block, allowing him to stretch those muscles. However, our amazing veterinary team found a more permanent solution—safely attaching half a bocce ball to his belly! The bocce ball supports his back half so he can move with ease.

Now Methuselah and Munch are ambassadors to teach people about responsible pet ownership. African spurred tortoises are naturally very friendly and have big personalities. Munch loves to go on walks around the zoo and meet guests during programs. Because they are so tame, people think they’d make good pets. However, adopting one is a lifetime commitment since they may live over 100 years. They also grow very large—housing a 250-pound reptile is no easy feat! They require specialized diets, heating, and lighting. Finally, they love to dig and can easily escape backyards. Proverbs 12:10 says, “Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast, but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.” As his image-bearers, God calls us humans to be good stewards of the animals. One way to practice this is by thoroughly researching potential pets to ensure you can care for them properly their entire lives. Only the most experienced and devoted owners should commit to keeping an African spurred tortoise. But you can come to see Methuselah and Munch for yourself at the zoos of Answers in Genesis!

Send Methuselah a Letter

Methuselah enjoys reading his mail.

Methuselah has his very own house and mailbox and loves to receive letters from his fans! If you'd like to write Methuselah (and get a letter from him in return), mail your letters to:

Answers in Genesis
Attn: Eden Zoo
P.O. Box 510
Hebron, KY 41048