This old man has seen and done a lot in his long life. He has lived through seven monarchies on the British throne, the invention of light bulbs and motorized cars, the completion of the Eiffel Tower, and the building of the first skyscraper. But Jonathan the Tortoise is still busy and not at all tired of living his life.
Hiptoro wants to tell you about this amazing tortoise, which is thought to be the oldest land animal ever found.
Jonathan is a giant tortoise from the Seychelles. In 1882, he was brought from the Seychelles to Saint Helena Island. Many people know that Napoleon was sent to live on this small, peaceful island in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Since then, Jonathan has lived on the grounds of the governor’s official home, the Plantation House.
No one knows for sure how old Jonathan was, but it was thought that he was about 50 years old when he arrived on the island because he was already a fully grown adult. So, the vets think he might have been born in 1832 and is now between 187 and 188 years old.
A tortoise of his species lives on average for about 150 years. This means that Jonathan has already lived more than 30 years longer than any of his other tortoises.
Because of this, Guinness World Records recognized him as the oldest living land animal.
Jonathan is still going strong even though cataracts have made him blind, his sense of smell is gone, and he can’t smell food anymore. Aside from these things that come with getting older, his health is good, and he lives his most relaxed life on the island.
On sunny days, he often comes out of his shell to stretch his long neck and legs and enjoy the sun. But when it’s cold, he digs into piles of leaves or grass and stays there all day.
Jonathan also eats his favorite foods, like carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, apples, and bananas, once a week.
Jonathan is old, but he is still very active and loves to be the center of attention. He likes it when people stroke his neck and is always ready to pose for a picture.
Jonathan lives with David, Emma, and Fred, who are all much younger land tortoises than he is. David, his best friend, is only 80 years old, but he is the second-oldest tortoise on the island.
Jonathan is known as a true legend on the island. He has seen a lot of people come and go, which is why he has become a symbol of stability and persistence for the people who live nearby. Tourists will come from all over the world to see this ancient animal.
Would you like to actually meet Jonathan? Please let us know what you think in the comments.
