World’s oldest tortoise still loves tennis
TAKING a cool bath or a nap under a tree, grazing on the lawn: These are a typical day’s highlights for Jonathan, the world’s oldest tortoise, who recently turned 190 years old – at the very least.
Since the 19th century, the Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) has lived in the garden of the governor’s residence of St Helena, a British protectorate off West Africa, where he is a much-loved symbol of the island, even gracing its money and stamps.
In his lifetime, Jonathan breathed the same air as eight British monarchs and 40 US presidents, plodded through the completion of the first skyscraper in 1885 and the Eiffel Tower in 1887, and weathered two world wars.
“For us, Jonathan is a symbol of perseverance and survival,” says his caregiver, veterinarian Joe Hollins, whose first name is also Jonathan. “He’s seen wars and plagues come and go, empires rise and fall, even if he doesn’t know it himself.”
Thought to have been born in 1832, Jonathan has lived on the 121sq km island with almost 4,500 inhabitants since 1882. Some 60 years earlier, Napoleon, who had been banished to St Helena, died there.
The tortoise was a gift to Sir William Grey-Wilson, who served as the island’s governor from 1890 to 1897. Since then, Jonathan has lived at the Georgian-style colonial residence, where he has known more than 30 governors.
The Guinness Book Of World Records gives his age as 190, but the assessment required some detective work. Documental evidence proves that Jonathan is at least this old, and maybe older.
A letter dating to the year of his arrival on the island states that Jonathan landed as a “grown animal”. On a photo taken on the island between 1882 and 1886, his shell diameter also indicates that he was already fully grown upon arrival. According to experts, this is equivalent to a minimum age of 50 years for giant tortoises.
Their average life expectancy is 150 years, but Jonathan is a survivor, says Hollins, 65. For many decades, the reptiles were considered a delicacy, especially among seafarers. Unfortunately for them, they were nutritious, tasty, easy to capture, and stacked neatly on deck.
These days Jonathan is safe enough and even has three other giant tortoises for company – David, Fred and Emma. Mating with Emma was once a favourite pastime, says Hollins, but with age, Jonathan became a “leisurely old gentleman” who liked to do his own thing.
Hollins has been taking care of Jonathan – who weighs around 180kg – for 12 years, making sure he gets enough vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
Once a week, he hand-feeds him his favourite treats: Cucumbers, lettuce, carrots, apples, bananas, and guava.
“I love Jonathan, but when it comes to love in return, I’m realistic. He just sees me as the food delivery guy,” says the vet.
Jonathan is now blind and has lost his sense of smell. But his hearing is excellent. He recognises his carer by his voice and generally enjoys spending time with people.
When he hears visitors, he often comes close and lets them pet him and take photos.
He also loves the sounds of the adjacent tennis court. Jonathan often stands for a long time at the fence and listens to the players’ voices and the balls hitting the ground.
For the residents of St Helena, he is an icon. A five pence coin bears his likeness with the inscription “Jonathan the giant tortoise”.
His three-day birthday celebrations in early December, livestreamed from the residency garden, included the release of a Jonathan stamp. Visitors also received an official commemorative certificate with his footprint, signed by the governor.
Hollins naturally fed Jonathan his favourite vegetables in a salute to his longevity and unique testament to endurance: “He gives us hope that despite the brutality of humanity, something can survive on our planet.”