43 years ago, the young buff Sylvester Stallone starred in the movie Rocky. As the movie became iconic so did the young actor. The classic movie also featured a pair of turtles that were purchased by Rocky while courting Adrian at the pet store where she worked.

Recently news came out that the reptiles are alive and well. Some people are wondering if they can even outlive Stallone himself.

The pets have been living with their pet store owner Joseph Marks who has kept them alive and healthy all these years.

More info: Instagram

Last year, Sylvester Stallone posted a selfie with the same pair of turtles that appeared in the first Rocky movie

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Stallone met with the creatures who played Rocky’s pets while on the CreED II set. He posted a selfie he took with the turtles on his Instagram page with the caption “With my original buddies from the first rocky… Cuff and Link, now about 44 years old!”

In the first movie, Rocky bought Cuff and Link at Adrian’s pet store

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Some may remember a humorous line in which Rocky expressed his wish that Cuff and Link could sing and dance so that he wouldn’t have to box to earn his living. After Rocky was filmed and wrapped up in December 1975, the turtles were returned to the ‘real-life’ pet store owner from whom they were bought. Apparently, the owner – Joseph Marks – has kept them all these years.

The turtles are female and at the time of shooting Rocky, were 5 years old

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As one ecologist on Reddit explained, the turtle-actors are the so-called red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) and usually live up to around 50 years old if they are well taken care of. “These cuties at 44 are doing well for their species,” he added.

See the video of the first Cuff and Link cameo below