Jonathan the Tortoise Gets His First Bath at Age 184

Jonathan is a giant tortoise—and also the oldest known living creature in the world, having recently turned 184 years old. Recently, his veterinarian decided that after nearly two centuries on this earth, Jonathan needed a thorough cleaning.

Dr. Joe Hollins, the veterinarian at the British outpost on the remote St. Helena Island (the island where Napoleon was exiled after his defeat), explained that the upcoming visit from the royal family inspired him to scrub Jonathan so he would appear before the princes in all his glory.

For the cleaning task, he used a loofah, a soft brush, and some medical soap. He carefully scrubbed every part of Jonathan's shell, removing dirt and grime, while Jonathan leisurely munched on grass.

After the bath, when Jonathan's shell shone brightly, Hollins noticed that the pattern of rings on the shell, which typically indicate a tortoise's age, had been completely worn away over the years.

Jonathan, who measures 1.14 meters in length, arrived at St. Helena 134 years ago as a gift to the island's governor from Seychelles. Over his long lifetime on the island, he has seen 28 British governors come and go, and eight kings and queens have reigned in Britain since his birth. Despite being ancient by any standard, his veterinarian says Jonathan's health is excellent. However, signs of aging are evident, not only in his shell; he has long since lost his sense of smell and his vision is deteriorating.

Why had he never been bathed before? Dr. Hollins explains that in the past, the caretakers of the island's tortoises didn't spend much effort on pampering them. But cleanliness definitely has its perks, he notes. Jonathan looks much better now—and it seems he even enjoyed the experience. "He stood quietly like a statue while I cleaned him. I'm not sure if he enjoyed the scrubbing or simply thought, 'Finally, my first bath!'"