Janos turns 25 and becomes world’s oldest living two-headed turtle

Angelica Burguan caresses the shell of Janus, whispering to him as he hurries to his ‘home’, his two heads rubbing together.

Janus, about to celebrate his 25th birthday, also has two hearts, two pairs of lungs and two distinct personalities. It would not have survived in the wild since it cannot withdraw the two heads into its shell to avoid being preyed upon by predators.

But at the Natural History Museum in Geneva, where his egg was hatched in 1997, Bourgouin and her team make sure to cover his every need. It is believed to be the oldest two-headed turtle in the world.

Janos eats only organic salad and has a daily massage and bath with green tea and chamomile. For exercise, he goes for regular walks – sometimes after music – and he also has his own specially made skateboard.

“I think it’s because we care about him so much and are devoted to him that he’s still with us today,” Burguan said.

Janos is a Greek turtle named after the two-faced Roman god. This weekend the Museum will throw a party in his honor.

But his life is not always easy. He is constantly monitored to ensure he doesn’t tip over – which could be fatal – and in 2020 he underwent surgery to remove gallstones. His heads periodically need Vaseline treatment because they rub against each other and the skin hurts.

His two personalities sometimes have different moods and preferences, which leads to… conflict, for example, when they want to go in different directions.

“The right head is more curious, more active, has a stronger personality. The left one is more passive and likes to eat,” Burguan said, explaining that one head prefers endives and the other carrots.

RES-EMP

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