At The Optimist Daily we love telling you about incredible happenings from around the world, both human and animal focussed. At the start of 2022, we reported on one of these remarkable events, when the world’s oldest person turned 119.
This time, the story is similar but in another organism, a tortoise. Born in 1832, Jonathan has received a Guinness World Record title for his whopping age of 190. Not only did he smash records in the chelonian department – a category that encompasses turtles, terrapins and tortoises – but also he officially claimed the title of the oldest living land animal.
Due to his old age, Jonathan is blind. An update from the St Helena Government stated: “He grazes well now, but is unaware of food if we simply place it on the ground. The Veterinary Section is still feeding him by hand once a week to boost his calories, vitamins, minerals and trace elements, as he is blind and has no sense of smell.”
They continued: “His hearing though is excellent and he loves the company of humans, and responds well to his vet Joe Hollins’ voice as he associates him with a feast.”
He has lived through a lot
This ancient beast has remarkably lived through so many societal changes, most likely not even being aware of that fact. Including the first telephone call in 1876, the first incandescent lightbulb was invented in 1878, and the first people to land on the moon in 1969!
