Jonathan the Tortoise

David F.
Feb 3, 2016
2 min read

Imagine being alive to see twenty-eight British governors come and go, eight British monarchs crowned, and fifty-one British prime ministers all in a lifetime. Well, 183 year-old Jonathan, the giant Seychelles tortoise, has done just that. He has lived on the remote island of St. Helena in the south Atlantic since 1882. He was first given to the governor of St. Helena as a gift, and he has lived there ever since. Recently, he has been going through a new diet that veterinarian, Dr. Joe Hollins, has put him on to help prolong his life. Before this diet, he was eating sticks and dirt since that's all he could find because of cataracts that has taken almost all of his vision. On top of this, he has lost his entire sense of smell. But after Dr. Hollins put Jonathan on a diet that consisted of fruits and vegetables that are full of vitamins and essential nutrients, Jonathan the Tortoise is becoming healthier than ever. His beak is getting sharper; it was dulled because he ate so many sticks, and he has gained weight. It is now looking like he could easily go over the age of 200 and live on past the rest of us. He is the oldest living animal on earth, and it seems he will stay that way for quite a while. Unfortunately, he will not be able to breed with any other Seychelles tortoises because of his old age and the fact that his blood pressure rising in such an occurrence could kill him. Also, he is far too old and fragile to travel to any other country. So, it seems Jonathan the Tortoise will most likely live on in his quaint plantation in St. Helena for the rest of his days.

Information & Photo from dailymail.co.uk