“When I recognize my voice, he comes up to me like a dog,” his keeper said.
Jonathan, dubbed the world’s oldest ever tortoise, has turned 190. This giant tortoise, weighing about 200 kilograms, lives on the remote island of Saint Helena. The animal’s libido is “in place” and mates frequently, its keeper said.
Jonathan, who has lived on this island in the southern Atlantic Ocean for 140 years, is world famous.
Jonathan, dubbed the world’s oldest ever tortoise, has turned 190. This giant tortoise, weighing about 200 kilograms, lives on the remote island of Saint Helena. The animal’s libido is “in place” and mates frequently, its keeper said.
Jonathan, who has lived on this island in the southern Atlantic Ocean for 140 years, is world famous.
Hollins, 64, who looks after many animals on the island, such as cats, dogs, sheep and donkeys, among other turtles, noted that Jonathan, whom he described as “the senior gentleman of the group,” was special:
I really enjoy taking care of her. It’s a great responsibility to meet the needs of the oldest land animal known to be alive. But it’s also an honor and a privilege.
The tortoise has become obsolet, with 31 Saint Helena governors and 39 US presidents, the vet said:
As wars, famines, plagues, kings, queens and even nations came and went, Jonathan lingered unaware of the passage of time.
“When I recognize my voice, it comes to me like a dog,” Hollins said. On the other hand, the veterinarian explained this situation with classic conditioning:
Because it connects me to food.
Hollins, who began caring for the animal thirteen years ago, said that when he first arrived, the turtle was in poor health but improved over time.
The vet reported that Jonathan no longer saw it and lost his sense of smell. But this old animal still has an appetite.
Hollins also shared a hilarious anecdote. He explained that some visitors who saw Jonathan, who liked to spread out on the grass and sunbathe, informed them that the animal had died.
Giant land turtles can live up to 150 years. Hollins said they were preparing for Jonathan’s death, which exceeded expectations, but it was still sad.
The record belonged to a turtle named Tu’i Malila. The animal is thought to be about 188 years old when it died in 1965.
Saint Helena, however, plans to print stamps in jonathan’s memory and set it one day.
