World’s oldest land animal, Jonathan the tortoise, celebrates 190th birthday - WGAU

Officials connected the South Atlantic land St. Helena connected Friday kicked disconnected a three-day solemnisation to people the 190th day of its oldest known resident: Jonathan the tortoise.

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St. Helena officials person spent the twelvemonth preparing for Jonathan’s birthday. Authorities person been soliciting video day messages and issued constricted variation stamps to observe the milestone.

The Seychelles elephantine tortoise has been surviving connected the land since 1882, erstwhile helium was brought arsenic a acquisition for Sir William Grey-Wilson, CNN reported. Grey-Wilson aboriginal became governor, and Jonathan took up residence astatine the governor’s authoritative home, the Plantation House.

His nonstop day of commencement is not known. It is estimated helium was calved successful 1832 due to the fact that helium was afloat mature by the clip helium got to St. Helena, meaning helium had to beryllium astatine slightest 50 years old, according to Guinness World Records. Matt Joshua, caput of tourism connected St. Helena, told CNN that the tortoise could beryllium arsenic aged arsenic 200.

In November, Gov. Nigel Phillips gave Jonathan an authoritative day of Dec. 4, 1832, according to The Guardian. To people the date, officials person planned a celebration astatine a stall dedicated to the tortoise astatine the Plantation Christmas Market.

Jonathan holds a brace of Guinness World Records for being the oldest surviving onshore carnal and being the oldest chelonian, a class including each turtles, terrapins and tortoises.

Jonathan’s vet, Joe Hollins, earlier this twelvemonth told Guinness World Records that passim his life, the tortoise’s main interests person remained sleeping, eating and mating.

“He loves banana, but it tends to gum up his mouth,” helium said. “Lettuce hearts, though not precise nutritious, are a favourite.”

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