LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - The Johnny Appleseed Park District celebrated a special kind of birthday, a tortoise named Duke.
Duke is turning 53 on March 25th, meaning he was born in 1973. He was gifted to the parks around his birth and has resided there ever since. He is an educational animal, being shown at different events for kids to learn more about reptiles. His party consisted of birthday cards and crafts to gift him, rock painting, and of course duke himself. He was able to roam around and greet each guest, as well as enjoying a big birthday cake made out of watermelon and lettuce.
"It's important to bring the community together and celebrate an animal that goes all throughout the community. We take him to schools, festivals, and libraries and so he's an important part of the park district and it's just nice to celebrate him and do some nature crafts inside," says Marie Walton, the naturalist at Johnny Appleseed Parks.
Duke's life expectancy is 200 years old, so the kids at this event will be able to bring their kids to a future Duke birthday.
