World’s oldest living animal 178-year-old tortoise
Jonathan, the tortoise, is believed to be 178-years-old. He was
photographed during the Boer War around 1900, he was believed to be 70
around the time. His life has spanned eight British monarchs from George
IV to Elizabeth II, and 50 prime ministers.
The photo was taken on the South Atlantic island of St Helena, where
Jonathan still lives today, along with five other tortoises David,
Speedy, Emma, Fredricka and Myrtle, in a plantation. The previous oldest
tortoise was widely thought to be Harriet, a giant Galapagos Land
tortoise, who died in 2005 aged 175 in Australia. Despite his old age,
locals say he still has the energy to regularly mate with the three
younger females. A spokesman for the island’s tourist board said
Jonathan is owned by the St Helena government and lives in the specially
built plantation on the governor’s land.
He said: “Jonathan is the sole survivor of three tortoises that
arrived on St Helena Island in 1882. “He was already mature when he
arrived and was at least 50-years-old. Therefore his minimum age is
178-years-old. He is the oldest inhabitant on St Helena and is claimed
to be the oldest living tortoise in the world. He lives in the grounds
of Plantation House which is the governor’s residence with five other
tortoises who are much younger than him.
Apparently he remained nameless for the most part of his residence in
St Helena until he was named by Governor Sir Spencer Davis in the
1930s.”
“He feeds on the grass of the main paddock. Jonathan is still very
active despite his age and adores attention, he is a real poser. He
seems to be sightless in one eye, but does not let that slow him down.”
It is thought Jonathan, from the species Testudinipae cytodira, was
brought to St Helena from the Seychelles as a mature adult in 1882. His
remarkable existence has come to light after the photograph was
discovered as part of a collection of Boer War images taken by a man
named L.A. Innes who had a studio in the British overseas territory’s
capital Jamestown. The pictures were recently sold at auction for £4,000
by Andrew Smith and Son auctioneers near Winchester, Hants. Further
investigation by the auctioneers revealed the tortoise in the picture
was Jonathan who was still alive.
Telegraph
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