Crikey!: Meet 190-year-old Jonathan, the oldest living animal in the world

We’ve heard of the oldest woman and the oldest man but now finally we get to hear of the oldest animal in the world. A tortoise named Jonathan takes the prize for this title as he is a whopping 190 years old. Jonathan is not only the oldest animal in the world but also the oldest chelonian.

Jonathan the tortoise is the world’s oldest living animal!

After living for almost 200 years, a tortoise named Jonathan has finally been recognised as the oldest animal in the world.

190-year-old Jonathan has been identified in the Guinness Book of World records and boasts the official record title of most senior chelonian – a category that entails all turtles, terrapins, and tortoises, Briefly News reports.

According to the St Helena Government, Jonathan has made it through another winter and is doing quite well. He is however having trouble eating on his own because he has grown blind and cannot see food in front of him.

“He grazes well now, but is unaware of food if we simply place it on the ground,” the update read.

“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,” read another part of the update.

The publication also reported that despite being unable to see or smell, he has excellent hearing and loves being around humans.

Living through it all

The previous record-holder was a 188-year-old tortoise named Tu’i Malila who died while living with a royal family in 1777. Jonathan however was born in 1832 and moved from Seychelles to St. Helena in 1882 when he was already 50 years old.

He was a gift to the St. Helena governor and has since lived through the coming and going of 31 other governors.

Some of his favourite pastime activities include eating, sleeping, and mating.

ALSO READ: The world’s oldest person Francisca Susano has died at age 124!