Meet the World’s Oldest Living Creature – Jonathan!

This is one very interesting story of a giant tortoise, Jonathan who is now over 175 years of age, still healthy, active and thinks of himself more prestiged than a celebrity. Well, in one way his feelings of a cool celebrity are quite justifiable. After all, Mr. Jonathan Tortoise has witnessed the coronation of eight British monarchs, from George IV to Elizabeth II, and a staggering 50 prime ministers in his exceptional life span.

The previous oldest known tortoise was thought to be Harriet, a giant Galapagos land tortoise that died aged 175 in 2005, in Australia. Jonathan is however, considered to be more than 175 years old and more importantly, he is no ordinary tortoise. He saw British history transition and is officially the only living creature that lived through so many phases of history.

It is believed that this giant tortoise was first brought with two other giant tortoises in the plantation House of the St. Helena governor’s residence in the island capital of Jamestown, as ornamental pets from Seychelles in the Indian Ocean in 1882. These giant tortoises may have been over 50 years old then, out of which only Jonathan is still alive. At a possible age of 175-plus he would be the world’s oldest living creature and not just the oldest tortoise only.

These days Jonathan hangs out with his much younger fellow tortoises David, Speedy, Fredicka, and Myrtle. According to locals, he still has the energy to mate regularly with the three females. A spokesman for the island’s tourist board said, “Jonathan feeds on the grass of the main paddock and is still very active and despite his age, and adores attention.” He added admiringly, “He is a real poser. He seems to be sightless in one eye, but does not let that slow him down.”

This oldest living creature no doubt deserves good care and recognition for his exceptional life-span. If only we could appoint some birth date to this tortoise, we could all give him a birthday bash while celebrating the oldest creature’s birthday in the world. How about that?