Jonathan, a tortoise so old that he lived about three centuries

This experienced gentleman has lived long enough. He saw seven monarchs occupying the British throne, “witnessed” the invention of electric light and motor cars, as well as the construction of the Eiffel Tower and the first skyscraper. But despite all this, Jonathan, a tortoise, remains active, without showing the slightest fatigue of living.

O awesome.club is happy to share the story of this incredible creature, considered the longest-lived land animal in the world.

Jonathan is a giant Seychelles tortoise who was taken from these Indian Ocean islands to another island, that of Saint Helena, in 1882🇧🇷 Peaceful and isolated, this place in the South Atlantic is well known for having served as an exile for Napoleon. Since then, Jonathan has lived on the property of plantation houseofficial government residence.

Although no one knows for sure how old Jonathan was, it is estimated that he had already reached adulthood by the time he arrived on the island. That is, the animal was around 50 years old at the time. Thus, experts believe that he may have been born in 1832, being 187 or 188 years old today.

On average, the life expectancy of turtles of the same species is 150 years. That means that Jonathan has surpassed his teammates in more than 30 years.🇧🇷 Thanks to this fact, our reptile friend has already been recognized as the longest-lived terrestrial animal, even being part of the famous Guinness Book of Records.

Despite being blinded by a cataract problem, having lost his sense of smell and not being able to find food on his own, Jonathan is still going strong. With the exception of age-related conditions, he remains in good health while maintains a worry-free life on the island🇧🇷 On sunny days, the animal stretches its paws and neck to take advantage of the heat. On cold days, Jonathan covers himself with leaves and cut grass, staying under them all day. Once a week, get your favorite foods, including carrots, cucumbers, cabbages, apples and bananas.

Despite age, Jonathan remains very active, always catching people’s attention🇧🇷 He loves being patted on the neck and always seems ready to pose for the snaps!

Jonathan shares his home with three other land tortoises: David, Emma and Fred, all much younger than him. His best friend, David, is the second oldest tortoise on the island, but he is only 80 years old.

On the island, Jonathan is considered a living legend🇧🇷 He has seen several generations of humans arriving and saying goodbye. Therefore, it is seen by locals as a symbol of persistence and stability. In addition, tourists from the most different countries have already come to the island for the chance to see this ancient creature with their own eyes.

Would you like to meet Jonathan in person? In your opinion, what makes a difference to having a long life? Comment!