Giant Live Reptiles Celebrate Gus' 86th Birthday

The Museum of Natural History's resident gopher tortoise Gus will celebrate his 86th birthday on Sunday, June 15, at 1:30 p.m. with some giant reptile guests, courtesy of Little Ray's Reptile Zoo.

Gus came to the museum in the early 1940s and has been charming Nova Scotian children since. He is adored by youngsters and has been touched millions of times; his finely polished shell proves that.

Sunday will also be the last chance to check out the reptile zoo, one of the coolest, cold-blooded shows to come to the museum.

Since the show opened on May 31, Little Ray and his trained zoo keepers have reached more than 5,000 Nova Scotians with educational and entertaining shows about reptiles.

"We are pleased to see that children and adults are leaving with a better sense and appreciation of these animals, their behaviours, habitats and global ecology," said Janet Maltby, museum manager.

Little Ray's Reptile Zoo performs six shows daily, which include This Lady-Chomps-A-Lot, a 2.2-metre, 68-kilogram American alligator and a 4.6-metre African rock python.

Each show includes an exciting presentation plus up-close personal encounters with the critters ... if you wish.

Shows also include a large Snapping turtle, Nile monitor -- cousin of the infamous komodo dragon -- a spur-thighed tortoise, red-footed tortoise, Cuviers dwarf caiman, reticulated python, a Taiwan beauty snake and a surprise animal guest.

Daily show times until Saturday are 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. There will be an extra show Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. and free admission between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday will only have afternoon shows.

Admission is $5 for youths, $6 for adults and free for children younger than three.

The Museum of Natural History is located at 1747 Summer St., Halifax. Details on programs and admission costs are available on the museum's website at nature.museum.gov.ns.ca or by calling 902-424-7353.