Back in the middle of the 90ies, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were a big thing and my mother thought it would be a good idea to gift my sister and I, a pair of red-eared sliders. I kept mine for years and eventually my sister gave hers to me. So I kept two turtles for decades. I have been known as "the guy with turtles" since I'm a teenager now.
One of them just passed away this spring, after more than 27 years, and she was not that old for her species, in captivity. The other one is still alive behind me, basking under the UV light, and it could be alive for another decade. And I like Mittens (his name) but he's taking a lot of space in my apartment. It's obvious both of them would have had a better life outside, in nature, rather than in my sometimes depressive care.
I agree with not gifting animals, but it sounds like your turtles had a good life. 27 years is a long time and way longer than the life expectancy of a wild one
Never in my six decades on this earth, as an Australian, have I ever heard of a lung fish Christmas gift. It is about as likely as giving someone a giraffe.
Same goes for a Greenland shark. We're talking about multi family generational commitment. You don't know if your grandkids, grandkids can handle that kinda responsibility