AROUND THE WORLD
TWO-HEADED TORTOISE TURNS 25
The world’s oldest two-headed tortoise recently celebrated its 25th birthday at the Geneva Natural History Museum. The tortoise is named Janus, after the two-headed Roman god. Because Janus can’t retract its heads into its shell to protect itself from predators, it wouldn’t have survived this long in the wild. The tortoise is taken care of by staff at the museum where he receives daily massages, baths in green tea and goes for walks. Janus was treated to a clean with a toothbrush and got to crunch on organic lettuce for his big birthday.
WACKY WRESTLING EVENT RETURNS
After a two-year break the World Gravy Wrestling Championships recently got underway at a pub in Lancashire, England. To compete in the event, competitors dress up in fancy costumes and wrestle in a pool of gravy for two minutes at a time. The charity event has been called one of the world’s craziest culinary competitions. It raises money for hospice, which helps take care of people who are terminally ill. “Basically, people come in fancy dress – men and ladies – and then they wrestle in gravy and get eliminated as the day goes on,” says restaurant manager Carol Lowe. “It’s very messy.”
HELP FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
Several relief camps have been set up for people in Pakistan following deadly flooding that has destroyed crops, roads, homes and other infrastructure in the country.
Government officials have called the floods “a serious climate catastrophe”. Around 33 million Pakistanis have been affected since the downfall began in June.
Countries, including China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, have stepped in to provide meals and medicine for families in need and tented camps have been set up by officials and volunteers for people with no shelter.