What is the oldest living thing that you know of? Animals that might come to your head might be lobsters or the immortal Jellyfishes. But to your surprise, the oldest living land animal is Jonathan the tortoise. Who has turned 190 in 2022 and will live for a couple of more centuries to come.
Born who-knows-where, Jonathan the tortoise lived 140 years of his recorded live on a remote island of St Helena governor’s residence, Plantation House. He has been estimated to have hatched in 1832, according to his caretaker, he had arrived at St Helena at the age of 50 years. Riding Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and landing at the island.
Back in the 1800s, tortoises were given out as diplomatic gifts and then eaten, since there were considered utterly delicious. Tortoises don’t require much food or water, making them the favorite harvest of the ship crews as they could be stored easily.
Other than taking care of the oldest tortoise, the island caretaker, Joe Hollins. Also takes care of cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, pigs, cats, and dogs, but of course, Jonathan is the special senior. He regarded taking care of Jonathan as the biggest honor for a vet to care of the oldest living creature.
[caption id="attachment_1340" align="aligncenter" width="768"] This historical photo taken in the late 1800s shows Jonathan, left, with another tortoise, now deceased. (Courtesy of Joe Hollins)[/caption]
Hollins also has said that St Helena’s population of 4,400 were awestruck to hear about Jonathan’s being the oldest living being. Furthermore, he has also seen 31 St Helena’s governors, Queen Victoria’s coronation in 1837, and inaugurations of 40 US presidents.
After being alive for 190 years, Jonathan has become an icon for persistence, endurance, and the ability of a living creature to survive, reaching a celebrity status on the island. As a celebrity he most of the time sunbathing and stumbling around and awning fresh fruits and vegetables.
On the other hand, the longest-living reptile recorded was radiated tortoise by the name of Tu’i Malila, given as a gift to Togan’s royal family in 1777. According to Guinness World Records, she lived about 188 years old and died in 1965. Hence requiring Guinness to update its record to crown the new oldest living land animal.
Today condition of the Jonathan has been slowly turning dire, with him going blind and losing his sense of taste, but still having a healthy Appetite. For a long, he has been fed by Joe Hollins, fresh produce, so that he is able to recover his vitamins, minerals, and trace element deficiency.
There has been close call, as he has been reported by visitors “Not moving” or"dead". Which much fear of Hollins, that one day might come true. It also said by the Hollins, that four separate governors have pleaded to him; “Please Joe, not on my watch”.
Sometime late this year, in 2022, St Hellen has planned to commission a stamp with Jonathan in it. Since tortoises are known to die either by injury or simply wearing out. With proper care and attention, he might live to see people around him to their graves.
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