World’s oldest turtle turns 190
While the British monarch died over 120 years ago at the age of 81, Jonathan continues to hang around planet Earth.
Perhaps the most famous resident of Saint Helena, one of the most remote islands in the world, Jonathan celebrates his 190th birthday this year, making him the oldest turtle to ever live.
Believed to have been born around 1832, Jonathan was gifted to Sir William Grey-Wilson – who later became Governor – who arrived in Saint Helena from the Seychelles in 1882. A further 31 Governors came and went during decades that followed.
In truth, Jonathan could even be 200 years old because no one knows his exact age, according to Saint Helena tourism manager Matt Joshua.
He told CNN: ‘Jonathan could actually be 200 years old because the information about his arrival on the island is not accurate and because there is no real record of his birth.
This photo was taken shortly after Jonathan arrived on the island, when he was at least 50 years old.
Further proof of his age emerged when an old photograph taken between 1882 and 1886 was discovered. It shows an adult Jonathan grazing in the garden of Plantation House, the residence of the Governor of Saint Helena, where he spent most of his life.
The world may have changed dramatically, but Jonathan’s life is still all about eating, sleeping and mating.
Mathias Falcone
Since Jonathan’s birth, the world has changed dramatically — the first photograph of a person was taken in 1838, the incandescent light bulb was invented in 1878, the first powered flight took flight in 1903 and, in 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first man on the Moon. Without forgetting the two world wars and the arrival of the internet.
Nevertheless, Jonathan’s world has changed little in nearly two centuries – his main interests remain sleeping, eating and mating.
Good libido
He is fed by hand as old age has left him blind and without a sense of smell and therefore has no awareness of food if it is simply put on the ground.
His hearing is excellent, however, and he responds well to the sound of his vet’s voice, according to Guinness World Records.
His vet, Joe Hollins, told GWR that despite some of his failing senses, Jonathan still has plenty of energy – although this varies depending on the weather.
“On mild days it will sunbathe – its long neck and legs stretch completely out of its shell to absorb the heat and transfer it to its core,” he said.
In cold weather, it prefers to “dig itself into leaf mold or cut grass and stay there all day”.
Jonathan has seen governors and royalty come and go in his long life. Here he is with the Queen and her family as a young woman.
Living alongside three other giant tortoises – David, Emma and Fred – Jonathan’s favorite foods are cabbage, cucumber, carrot, apple and other seasonal fruits.
Hollins added: “Despite his age, Jonathan still has a good libido and is frequently seen mating with Emma and sometimes Fred — the animals are often not particularly gender sensitive!”
The elderly animal is something of a celebrity on the island, located in the South Atlantic.
Joshua said: “There are generations and generations of St. Helenians, aka Saints, who have pictures of granny with him as a child.
“He is really well loved and people are watching over him.”
Island officials are currently working on Jonathan’s birthday celebrations, which are planned for later this year. A series of commemorative stamps will be issued and anyone who visits him this year will receive a certificate featuring the first known image of his footprint.
Top image credit: Mathias Falcone