In 2009, vets would have had to drill through Gus’s shell to reach the stone, a risky and invasive method.

Today, new veterinary techniques let doctors take the stone out through a small cut in his leg. The leg incision is tiny and avoids any damage to the shell.

The same leg‑incision method has already succeeded with other gopher tortoises, proving it works well for this species.

These advances show how modern veterinary surgery can treat very old reptiles safely, giving them a better chance of staying healthy.