One gentle giant has been given a second chance at a very long life thanks to the efforts of one of her rescuers, who also happened to be her age!
Haartbeesport, South Africa (12 January 2026) – Our wildlife, precious as they are, can be dealt unfortunate blows simply by trying to coexist with us.
Recently, a tortoise was found by the Carletonville SPCA just in time. She had been slowly suffocating due to a nylon string wrapped around her neck. The team wasted no time reaching out to Brendan Murray, co-founder of the Owl Rescue Centre, to collect the “big girl”,- who happened to be exactly the same age as him.
Brendan and his team took an early morning flight to retrieve her.
“Ironically, she was also born in 1972—same as me,” he said.
“The only difference is that I’m heading towards my twilight years, while she’s only entering her teenage years.”
The tortoise was rushed to the Bryanston Avian, Exotic and Small Animal Clinic. There, Dr Perushan, Dr Melissa, and vet assistant Casper sedated her and successfully removed the nylon string that had been threatening her life.
With the foreign object finally gone, this resilient survivor has been given a second chance at a very long life. After a brief period of recovery, Brendan confirmed that she is now ready to return to the wild, where she will be released into the safety of a protected nature reserve.
As he continues his journey through his middle years, his “age-mate” will continue hers for decades to come, hopefully roaming free without the weight of human interference. Her story is a reminder of how fragile our wildlife can be but also demonstrates how much impact a little compassion can have to save it.
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