Nathalye De Almeida grew up listening to her mother reminisce about Manuela, the beloved pet tortoise she had as a child.
These stories were always tinged with nostalgia and heartache because, when Nathalye’s mom, Sueli, was just 8 years old, Manuela mysteriously disappeared.
The loss of her cherished pet left a deep impact on Sueli, who believed she would never see her tortoise again. Yet, life had a special surprise in store, waiting to unfold…
Thirty years after Manuela’s disappearance, Nathalye’s grandfather, Leonel, passed away.
The family gathered for his funeral and to sort through his belongings at their childhood home.
Known for hoarding objects and electronic equipment, Leonel had left the house, particularly the attic, in a cluttered state.
As the family cleared out the space, tossing most items into large trash bags, they came upon an antique wooden speaker box. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but a closer look revealed something astonishing that left everyone speechless.
Believe it or not, tucked away in the old speaker box was none other than Manuela, the family’s long-lost tortoise.
Miraculously, she was alive and well, thirty years after vanishing. How could this be possible?
No one could fully explain how Manuela managed to survive for decades in a room full of electronic equipment, without any apparent source of food or water. It remained a bewildering mystery.
But seriously, how did Manuela manage to live so long?
Jefferson Pires, professor and veterinarian discussed the resilience of tortoises in an interview with Fantastico. He said:
“Despite adverse situations, they can go a long time without eating. Even without scientific data proving it, they can go two to three years without eating. In the wild, they eat fruit, leaves, feces, dead animals.”
The Almeida family believes that Manuela might have survived by feeding on termites in the attic.
Whatever the true explanation, the Almeidas are overjoyed to have Manuela back. And who wouldn’t be? It’s nothing short of a zoological miracle!