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The world ’s oldest tortoise has turned 191 years sometime , extending his title of the old living land beast by another year .
The Seychelles elephantine tortoise ( Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa ) , cognise as Jonathan , has lived on the removed south Atlantic Island of Saint Helena since 1882 after he was gifted to the regulator at the fourth dimension .
Jonathan the wold’s oldest living land mammal has turned 191 years old.
count on to have been behave in 1832 , his years is a cautious estimate as he was fully mature — meaning he was at least 50 years old — when he arrived , meaning he could be even old . His assumed age was corroborate when an old picture taken between 1882 and 1886 was let on present Jonathan graze in residence gardens of William Grey - Wilson , the oversea British district Governor of St. Helena at the time .
He was granted an official birthday — Dec. 4 , 1932 — by Nigel Phillips , the regulator of St. Helena , in November last twelvemonth , according to the Guardian .
Jonathan holds two Guinness World Records ( GWR),the oldest known be land animaland theoldest chelonian , an order known for having a operose knocked out shell such as tortoises , turtles and terrapins . Jonathan arrogate the title of world ’s old live mammal in 2021 from Tu’i Malila ( c. 1777–1965 ) , a radiate tortoise that lived to be at least 188 .
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Seychelles giant tortoise have an mean life expectancy of 150 twelvemonth . Although Jonathan is blind with cataract and has lost his sense of flavour , St. Helena veterinarian Joe Hollins said he continue in good health — with a stiff libido and healthy appetence . According to GWR , he still assay to mate with the tortoises he lives with — Emma , who is about 55 years old , and Frederik , is 32 .
“ Animals are often not particularly gender - sensitive ! ” Hollins said .
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" Although cognizant of the responsibility and that , of grade , he will die one twenty-four hours , I conceive we have greatly raise his life expectancy , " Hollins state in an audience with GWR . " We put in once - weekly alimentation of good calorific solid food and this has transformed him , demonstrating probable micro - deficiencies of vitamins , mineral and hint elements . "
Jonathan was in the beginning identified as an Aldabra giant tortoise ( Aldabrachelys gigantea ) from the Aldabra Atoll , which form part of the Seychelles archipelago . But following an examination of his shell by zoological professional and theSeychelles Nature Trust , scientists mold he was probable a rare Seychelles giant tortoise .
European sailors hunted the species to near extinction . In fact , the metal money was take for extinct until researchersanalyzed confined specimen and constitute living person . fit in toIUCN ’s Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Groupthere are now around 80 immortalize globally .
In his lifetime , Jonathan has lived through two world war , 40 U.S. presidents and 31 St. Helena governor . Today , Jonathan peacefully ramble the earth with three other giant tortoises called Emma , Fred and David .
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