Jonathan, the 186-year-old tortoise on an island in England, has been eating, sleeping, and mating with another male tortoise for the past 26 years.
Experts discovered that Jonathan’s partner for three decades, the oldest tortoise in the world, is actually a male tortoise, as reported by Sun yesterday.
Jonathan was brought from Seychelles to Saint Helena Island, South Atlantic, in 1882.
Since around 1832, our world has undergone many changes with continuous advancements and unforgettable historical events, such as the invention of the light bulb and motor vehicles, the inauguration of the Eiffel Tower, and the construction of the first skyscraper… All these milestones have been part of the life of the oldest tortoise on Earth – Jonathan.
Jonathan the tortoise – the oldest tortoise in the world.
At 186 years old, Jonathan is the oldest resident of Saint Helena, a British overseas territory located 1,931 km from the southern coast of Africa. The tortoise moved to Saint Helena when it was over 30 years old as a gift to the island’s governor. Upon reaching 80, Jonathan became irritable, starting to knock over benches and interrupt cricket matches on the lawn in front of the governor’s residence. Veterinarians believed that Jonathan needed a companion.
Jonathan the tortoise is suffering from cataracts and loss of smell.
In 1991, Jonathan met Frederica, and shortly after, the pair began mating regularly every Sunday morning, according to Times. However, they have never produced offspring. The reason was revealed after veterinarians treated shell injuries and discovered that Frederica was actually a male tortoise.
Female and male tortoises of all species do not have easily identifiable characteristics. Their gender is determined by subtle signs such as a V-shaped notch on the shell or the shape of the belly.
Catherine Man, a veterinarian on the island, stated that the pair of tortoises live very orderly lives and have a healthy diet consisting of greens and vitamins. However, Jonathan is suffering from cataracts and loss of smell.
Jonathan the tortoise took its first bath in March last year. (Video: YouTube).
Aside from age-related issues, this tortoise is still enjoying the best relaxed life on the island. On sunny days, it stretches its neck and legs out of its shell to bask in the sunlight. If the weather is cold, it gathers leaves or grass into a pile and burrows in there for the whole day. Once a week, Jonathan enjoys its favorite foods, including carrots, cucumbers, cabbage, apples, and bananas.
The tortoise enjoys being stroked on the neck and is always ready to pose for photos.
Despite its advanced age, Jonathan remains very active and enjoys attracting people’s attention. This tortoise, which has lived through three centuries, loves being stroked on the neck and is always ready to pose for photos.
Jonathan shares its home with three other tortoises, David, Emma, and Fred. They are all much younger than Jonathan. Its closest friend is David, the second oldest tortoise on the island, who is only 80 years old.
On the island, Jonathan is regarded as a legend as it has witnessed the changes of the island and many generations of people coming and going. That is why it has become a symbol of resilience and stability for the local residents.
