The pet turtle went missing, 30 years later, the family was shocked to find it alive in an unexpected place

Family members are stunned to learn that their pet turtle is still alive after 30 years.

The turtle Manuela disappeared from their home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 1982 and despite a lengthy search, the tortoise's family was unable to find it.

Manuela's owners, the Almeida family, believe their pet turtle ran away after the builders forgot to open the door. It was only after the death of their father, Mr. Leonel in 2013, that the children died. The Almeidas have just begun cleaning a room on the second floor, which is full of broken electrical appliances and is always locked.

Leonel's son Leandro said he was surprised to find Manuela alive inside a box containing an old phonograph.

"I put the box on the sidewalk for the men to collect garbage and a neighbor asked me 'You're not going to throw away the turtle, are you?'," Leandro said. "I looked back and saw the turtle. I was stunned, I couldn't believe what I was seeing."

Ms. Lenita, who was given the turtle as a childhood pet, said: "Everything my father thought could be repaired, he picked it up and brought it home. If he found an old television, he He thought he could use its parts to repair another car in the future, so he continued to collect things.We never dared to go into that room.We were all happy. I'm glad that the tortoise Manuela is back. But no one can understand how it managed to survive 30 years there, it's unbelievable."

Jefferson Pires, a veterinarian in Rio de Janeiro, explains that the Manuela red-footed tortoise can live for long periods of time without eating. "They are exceptionally resilient and can survive for two to three years without food. In the wild, they eat fruit, leaves, dead animals, even feces."

He said Manuela may have survived by eating termites from the wooden floor.