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TALE AS OLD AS TIME
Meet oldest living animal to walk the earth – Jonathan the tortoise who met late Queen & lived through 40 US presidents
His vet revealed his stunning comeback after being on the brink of death 15 years ago
THE OLDEST animal walking the earth has lived through eight British monarchs, 40 US presidents and could be even older than first thought.
Meet Jonathan, the giant tortoise who is 192 years old - at the “absolute” minimum.
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The “gentleman tortoise” is thought to have hatched around 1832 at the latest in the Seychelles, since living through the reign of eight British monarchs.
He was brought to Saint Helena when he was "fully mature" - a label given to tortoises when they are at least 50 years old - in 1882.
One of the giant reptile's vets, Joe Hollins, said: “I find his age astonishing. And it’s surprising how many vets are looking after the oldest known land animal in the world! What a privilege!”
Despite his age Jonathan is showing no signs of slowing down and spends his days taking mudbaths with pals, chomping on bananas and spectating tennis matches.
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Jonathan still resides on the island of Saint Helena in the immaculate grounds of Plantation House - the official residence of the governor.
He is not only “key” to bringing tourists to the island but even attracts famous faces - including royalty.
He met the late Queen Elizabeth II as far back as 1947.
His most recent celeb visitors include House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Prince Edward who were both pictured hanging out with the famous tortoise.
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Hollins has known Jonathan since 2009 and says it is an "honour" to have cared for him.
Jonathan has no sense of smell and has limited eyesight but knows the vet’s voice “very well”.
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Hollins said: “I think because of the loss of his senses he's become very placid, very gentle.
"He's a gentleman of a tortoise, very sweet, and he knows my voice very well. He knows his feeders' voices."
But Jonathan’s laid back approach once nearly cost him his life when one of the other three tortoises that he lives with, David, became aggressive during feeding.
Hollins explained how David's strong ramming power is “potentially dangerous”.
He said: “You've got a 200kg boulder on four pillars and they rotate their legs very rapidly, pull in their heads and use the shell as a ram.
“He wouldn't do it to us but it nearly cost Jonathan his life.”
And this wasn’t Jonathan’s only brush with death.
BACK FROM THE BRINK
When Hollins met him more than 15 years ago, it appeared he was on his last legs.
Upon arrival to care for the tortoises Hollins found Jonathan in a sorry state, malnourished with a crumbling beak and cataracts.
Hollins reflected: “He was thin, and I assumed he was really dying to be honest. He was on his way out, whether that year or the next.”
But after Hollins improved Jonathan’s diet and habitat he was able to nurse him back to health.
“He regenerated, he literally rejuvenated and regenerated, and it is in their power to do so, not in ours.
"He put on weight, he became more active, everything reversed. It was quite incredible.”
Jonathan is now in flying form, and when asked how long he thought Jonathan might live for, Hollins simply responded: “How long is a piece of string?”
The monarchs Jonathan has lived through
SINCE being hatched in 1832 or earlier, Jonathan the tortoise has witnessed many winds of change.
That includes a host of British monarchs.
They are:
- William IV (reign 1830-1837)
- Victoria (1837 -1901)
- Edward VII (1901-1910)
- George V (1910-1936)
- Edward VIII (1936-1936 - abdicated)
- George VI (1936-1952)
- Elizabeth II (1952-2022)
- Charles III (2022-)
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Jonathan now lives a peaceful life mooching around the island with three other giant tortoises, David, Emma and Fred.
One of Jonathan's favourite past times is to spectate tennis matches that happen in the grounds of Plantation House.
Hollins said: “There's a tennis court in the paddock and when people play tennis in the court he hears the sound of the ball and marches over even though he can't see the bloody thing.
“He stands there like a fossilised spectator with the ball clacking backwards and forwards. He just wants to be involved. I think.”
When he’s not enthralled by the tennis the giant tortoise also likes to give himself a relaxing mud bath - which “terrifies” Hollins.
He said: “They literally make mud baths in the wet season. All you see is the top of the shell, it terrifies me.
"They have their heads under the water, and then you tap on the shell to make sure they're alive, and they go, 'Yeah'."
“They didn't care at all. They can hold their breath for prolonged periods like 30 min."
Jonathan loves to munch on his favourite snacks, “honing in on bananas” and vegetables.
Carrots are also a hit with the giant as well as lettuce and cabbage.
Jonathan enjoys attention too, described as “a people friendly tortoise” who “wants to be with you".
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Hollins said: “I usually stroke his neck. He loves it along his neck. I think also it's the warmth of our mammalian flesh he loves."
Since his retirement Hollins has written a book titled Vet at the end of the Earth in which he shares fascinating tales from his life as an island vet.
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