Long-Lost Pet Tortoise Found Alive After 30 Years in Attic

Growing up, Nathalye De Almeida often heard her mom talk about her childhood pet tortoise, Manuela. The stories were always sweet — but also tinged with sadness.

Back in 1982, when Almeida’s mom was just 8 years old, Manuela mysteriously disappeared.

The family assumed the tortoise had somehow escaped the house and was gone for good. But as it turns out, Manuela had never left — and the truth wouldn’t come out until decades later.

Fast forward 30 years to 2013. After Almeida’s grandfather passed away, the family returned to her mom’s childhood home to sort through his things. The attic was packed with stuff he’d collected over the years, and while cleaning it out, someone made an unbelievable discovery.

Inside an old wooden speaker box, tucked away in the clutter, was a tortoise — and not just any tortoise. It was Manuela.

“We were shocked!” Almeida told The Dodo. “My mom was in tears. She couldn’t believe it. They had found Manuela!”

Amazingly, the tortoise had survived all that time in the attic. The family believes Manuela lived off termite larvae and other small insects in the storage space.

It was a joyful reunion.

Even more incredible — nearly 10 years later, Manuela is still alive and thriving. Though after a later vet check, the family learned their long-lost tortoise was actually male. So now, he goes by Manuel.

Almeida has been caring for him ever since.

“Manuel is doing great. He’s grown so much,” she said. “I brought him to live with me because I love him dearly.”

People still ask Almeida how Manuel could have possibly survived for three decades in an attic. It’s a mystery, even to her. But one thing she’s sure of — he was never forgotten.

“My mom visits him every week. She’s so happy to see my daughter playing with him,” Almeida said. “She feeds him, cuddles him, kisses him. He’s part of our family. He always has been.”