Scientists have discovered that the world’s oldest living creature is gay. Jonathan is a tortoise living on the British colony island Saint Helena, and he happens to be 186-years-old.
While he had lived most of his life with his female tortoise companion Frederica, a recent study found that the reason the pair hadn't had any children is because both Jonathan and Frederica are male.
Catherine Man, the island vet, said the two animals do everything together. This including eating, sleeping and mating at set times. But while treating the female for a lesion on her shell, closer inspection revealed Frederica could actually be a male. Residents had been baffled by the fact the couple had never had any offspring -- but the discovery could now finally have solved the mystery.
Jonathan is Saint Helena’s most famous resident and governors are reportedly terrified he will pass away on their watch. At 186, he has already outlived the life expectancy of giant tortoises (150 years) by more than 35 years. He has been living on the island since he was given as a gift to the governor by the Seychelles in the 1880s. Jonathan has since been pictured with royalty and statesmen from all around the world. He even once posed with prisoners captured during the Boer War that were being held on Saint Helena.
Jonathan currently suffers from cataracts and has lost his sense of smell, but hopefully he and his lover still have years together to come.
Source: standard.co.uk
