190-Year-Old Tortoise Was Photographed in 1886 and Today

[G_j]

https://petapixel.com/2022/01/26/jonathan-the-190-year-old-tortoise-was-photographed-in-1886-and-today/?fbclid=IwAR1Zi9iOGpJb1bzZcaYw1clivUWoqKOEL0TntZF0HhshAMF9oUYleBCriOU


Jonathan is a giant tortoise that lives on the remote island of St. Helena. He turns 190 years old this year, making him the world’s oldest tortoise to ever live. Photographed as far back as 1886 and today, Jonathan now has pictures taken over 136 years apart.

Jonathan is a giant Seychelles tortoise who arrived at St. Helena by ship in 1882. A letter in the island’s records states that the tortoise was a gift to St. Helena from British colonial administrator Sir William Grey-Wilson, who later became the island’s governor in 1887.

“Jonathan was fully grown at that time [of arriving at St. Helena], which would be at least 50 years old, so his hatching year would have been about 1832,” says Teeny Lucy of the St. Helena SPCA. “He is the oldest land animal in the world — [there are] many older [animals] in the ocean!”

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“His official record title is oldest chelonian – a category which encompasses all turtles, terrapins, and tortoises,” Guinness World Records writes. “The previous oldest chelonian was Tu’i Malila, a radiated tortoise that lived to be at least 188. Presented to the royal family of Tonga by Captain Cook c.1777, Tu’i Malila remained in their care until its death in 1965.



Jonathan the tortoise (left) with an unnamed tortoise in 1886.



present day


…more..

[hlthe2b]

1. I've been following this guy's story for most of my adult life. I find it so fascinating...

Live even longer and prosper, old fella.

[Solly Mack]

2. Happy Birthday, Jonathan!

Wow!

[sakabatou]

3. May he live to be 200.

[Karadeniz]

4. And still as good-looking as ever!!!

[lagomorph777]

20. He does look vigorous!

[Blue Owl]

5. Let's hope McConnell doesn't last that long

[G_j]

6. OMG

[pazzyanne]

14. Yikes!

Don't give the "Senate turtle" any ideas!

[Beacool]

17. LOL!!!

[BeerBarrelPolka]

29. LOLOL

!!!!

[malaise]

31. DUzy

[lookyhereyou]

33. TURTLES ARE SACRED.

Moscow Mitch not. and any comparison is disrespectful

of turtles and their successful evolutionary success story.

[copperearth]

42. OMG

I hope McConnell doesn't last that long.

[Hoyt]

7. I want what Jonathan is taking.

[localroger]

12. Well for starters he's a vegetarian.

Deal killer for me. I guess I'll just die young. (Made it to 58, still just a kid by Jonathan's standards.)

[Doc Sportello]

8. Bet he doesn't get sad looking at pictures of himself as a youth

Like I do. 😜

[Lucinda]

9. ❤️ ✿❧🌿❧✿ ❤️

[JoeOtterbein]

10. He doesn't look...

...a day over 189 to me!

[Wounded Bear]

11. Hasn't aged a day...

[pazzyanne]

13. Amazing!!! nt

[aggiesal]

15. The Republicans would say ...

he doesn't qualify for Social Security until 200 years old.
And they want to know why he gets free food and housing.

[iemanja]

22. Republicans would shoot him for a trophy.

[Ferrets are Cool]

37. Actually, they would kill him JUST for braggin rights

[LudwigPastorius]

16. Welcome to old age, fella.

(Is it just me, or does he seem to be yelling at the photographer to 'get off my lawn' in that last photo?)

[orleans]

18. wow--good for him (i guess)

however, i can't imagine anything worse--living so fucking long. no thank you very much

[sprinkleeninow]

19. Hi Baby! I love you!

[In It to Win It]

21. I bet that old timer has some stories to tell

[Wingus Dingus]

24. Super cool. Keep on keeping on, Jonathan.

[Demovictory9]

25. looking good

[PlanetBev]

26. I guess 190 is the new 180

I should look so good at that age.

Many happy returns….I guess. 🎂

[Raine]

27. I love tortoises 🐢 I have one but he's not as old

as Jonathan. Mine was born around 1940 he outlived his previous owner and I inherited him. I really love him ❤he's a real sweetheart and smart too. 🐢

[North Shore Chicago]

28. Lucky you!

Would love to hear all about your tortoise. Maybe an ongoing DU lounge updates with photos?

[efhmc]

44. Often used to have them come into the yard at the ranch. I would provide an exit and off they

would go. Really would disappear faster than I would have thought possible. Go into the house and come back outside and see them nowhere.

[Takket]

30. He doesn't look a day over 185

[TheRickles]

38. Beat me to it. :-)

[Emile]

32. I can't imagine living that long.

[peppertree]

34. "1886? Like yesterday to me!"

Happy Birthday, big guy!

[lark]

35. He's looking pretty spry for such an old guy.

Good for him!

[sarisataka]

36. He is amazing

Born in the same year as Lewis Carroll and Loisa May Alcott, Andrew Jackson was elected to his second term

[ForgedCrank]

39. Now that

is cool as hell.
What an awesome creature.

[wryter2000]

40. What a sweetie

A tortoise Darwin saw in Galapagos only died about 10 years ago.

[maxsolomon]

41. Poor guy must be lonely.

St. Helena is on the other side of Africa from the Seychelles. Repatriate!

[StarryNite]

43. I love him and all of his cousins.

They deserve so much more respect than they get when people compare them to mitch. I actually see nothing funny about that.

[wendyb-NC]

45. Wow

Jonathan, is awesome. What a wonderful creature.

[Midnight Writer]

46. I hope Don Jr. doesn't shoot him.

[Evolve Dammit]

47. May I look so good at 190.....