World's Oldest Tortoise: Jonathan Turns 191 Years Old, Extending His Record-Holding Title

The world's oldest tortoise, Jonathan, has turned 191 years old. He has lived through the term of 31 governors in St. Helena and 40 presidents in the US. He was also able to witness two world wars.

Jonathan: World's Oldest Tortoise

Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa), has been staying on the Island of Saint Helena, a remote island in the southern Atlantic, since 1882, after being gifted to the governor back then.

The tortoise is estimated to have been born back in 1832. Jonathan's age is a rough estimate based on his full maturity back then, which indicated that he was at least 50 years old. This means that the tortoise could be older than his projected age.

This assumed age was backed up when an old photograph that was shot between 1882 and 1886 showed the tortoise grazing through the resident gardens of William Grey-Wilson, who served as the Overseas British territory Governor of the island back then.

Governor Nigel Philips gave Jonathan an official birthday in November 2022. This birthday has been set for December 4, 1932.

At present, Jonathan is the record-holder of two Guinness World Records (GWR). He is known to be the oldest chelonian and the oldest known land animal that is alive. Jonathan became recognized as the world's oldest living mammal back in 2021, claiming the title of the radiated tortoise Tu'i Malila that lived until around 188 years old from 1777 to 1965.

Originally, Jonathan was thought to be an Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea). However, after zoological professionals and the Seychelles Nature Trust examined his shell, scientists found that he was actually a Seychelles giant tortoise.

Staying Healthy

A typical Seychelles giant tortoise lives for roughly 150 years. While Jonathan has lost his auditory senses and is blinded by cataracts, Joe Hollins, a veterinarian from St. Helena, explains that he remains healthy, adding that the tortoise has a healthy appetite and strong libido. Jonathan reportedly still attempts to mate with the other tortoises he lives with.

Hollins explains that though they are aware of the responsibility and of how Jonathan will eventually die, they think that they were able to boost the tortoise's life expectancy. Hollins adds that they introduced a weekly caloric food feeding and that this has transformed Jonathan.

Jonathan has lived through the majority of Queen Victoria's weight, two world wars, and the US civil war, the Soviet Union's rise and fall.

At present, the tortoise peacefully lurks around the ground and lives with three other tortoises named David, Fred, and Emma.

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