Here's why:
* Different species, different lifespans: Some turtle species live for decades, while others can reach hundreds of years.
* Individual variation: Even within the same species, individual turtles have different lifespans due to factors like diet, habitat, and health.
* "Human time" is subjective: What feels like a long time to a human might be a blink of an eye for a turtle.
Here are some examples to give you an idea:
* Common Snapping Turtle: Up to 100 years
* Red-eared Slider: 20-30 years in the wild, but can live much longer in captivity
* Galapagos Giant Tortoise: Can live over 100 years, with some individuals reaching over 150
* Leatherback Sea Turtle: Can live over 50 years
To put it in perspective:
* If a turtle lives for 100 years, that's about 3-4 times the average human lifespan.
* A 200-year-old turtle would have seen the American Revolution, the invention of the telephone, and the moon landing!
So, while we can't give a precise number, turtles are known for their long lifespans, which can be significantly longer than humans.