He's lived through both World Wars, seven British monarchs, 39 U.S. presidents and is older than the Eiffel Tower – and now, Jonathan the tortoise is celebrating another year around the sun as he turns 190.
He is believed to have been born in 1832, but according to Guinness, could be even older, as he wasn't found until he wound up in St. Helena until 1882 when he was already fully mature.
According to the record-keeping group, Jonathan has lived through some of humanity's biggest milestones: the first telephone call in 1876, the completion of the Eiffel Tower in 1887, the Wright brothers' first power-driven flight in 1903 and the first people to walk on the moon in 1969. A photo dated to c. 1882–86 taken in the grounds of Plantation on St Helena – shortly after Jonathan arrived on the island Through all of that, however, his vet told Guinness that Jonathan's interests have stayed the same – sleeping, eating and mating.
"In spite of his age, Jonathan still has good libido and is seen frequently to mate with Emma and sometimes Fred – animals are often not particularly gender-sensitive!" the veterinarian, Joe, told Guinness earlier this year.to make a national holiday in honor of the tortoise.
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