Unseen Passage | CCT Weekly Practice Jonathan Tortoise

Introducing Jonathan, the world’s oldest animal on land at 187 years old. Born circa 1832 –five years prior to the coronation of Queen Victoria –Jonathan the tortoise is due to turn 187 years old in 2019. That makes him the oldest-known land animal alive today. This puts him just one year away from the title of oldest chelonian ever, currently held by Tu’iMalila, a radiated tortoise that reached at least 188 years old. She was owned by the royal family of Tonga between c. 1777 and 1965, and had been presented to them by British explorer Captain James Cook during his third –and final –Pacific voyage (1776–80).

In his lifetime, Jonathan has lived through two world wars, the Russian Revolution, seven monarchs on the British throne and 39 US presidents. His estimated year of birth also predates the release of the Penny Black, the first postage stamp (1840), the building of the first skyscraper (1885) and the completion of the Eiffel Tower (1887) –the tallest iron structure. Other human milestones to have taken place in his long life include the first photograph of a person (1838), the first incandescent light bulb (1878) and the first powered flight (1903). Now the oldest animal in the world –among terrestrial animals –Jonathan has outlived the oldest person ever by around 65 years. The greatest authenticated age for a human is a “mere” 122 years 144 days, achieved by Jeanne Calment (1875–1997) from France.

Although originating from Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, Jonathan has resided on the remote island of St Helena in the South Atlantic since 1882. St Helena is perhaps best known for being the final resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte –who was exiled here after his defeat at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. The banished emperor and Jonathan would never have met, though, as the former died more than six decades prior to the arrival of this record-breaking reptile. When Jonathan was brought to St Helena, he was already fully grown.

Based on known data for this species, that would indicate he was about 50 years of age at the time (hence his estimated birth year of 1832 to make him the longest-lived animal on land). Jonathan was gifted to the then-governor of the Overseas British territory, William Grey-Wilson (in office 1890–97), and he has lived at the governor’s residence ever since. Jonathan’s home is the manicured lawns of “Plantation”, a Georgian mansion built by the East India Company in 1791–92. Today, he shares the grounds with three other giant tortoises: David, Emma and Fred.

Source: Created by:-Ms. Shivani Mehta, Delhi.