Jonathan Takes a Bath

On Saturday 19 March 2016, an historic event took place in the grounds of Plantation House, St Helena Island. Jonathan the Giant Tortoise - the oldest known living land animal on Earth and creakingly old national treasure at an estimated age of 184 years - was washed for the first time in recorded history by vet Dr Joe Hollins. Joe explained that the reason for bathing Jonathan came after he cleaned - and transformed - the shell of one of the female tortoises at Plantation House. Joe consulted a tortoise specialist to establish the method of cleaning, which includes gentle, circular scrubbing using non-abrasive materials.
Filmed and Edited: Kimberley Yon - Roberts (SHG's Press Office)

[@tysonschneider]

I wonder if Jonathan gets as sad as a human losing a pet dog to death, each time he loses one of his pet humans to death.

[@lanceellis4222]

When a turtle is older than some countries you know it's good.

[@japphan]

+Lance Ellis Most people are older than some countries.

[@johnwebb22]

"HEY, what's going on back there? What are you doing to me?"

[@Knollcgcolonie]

+John Webb hey you im talkin to you here pal, did i ask for this? ah nevermind i look good.

[@isunlloaoll]

at least 184 years old huh? I mean... that just blew my mind... someone who saw napoleon alive on that island probably also saw this very same tortoise.

[@kamotechronicles7904]

it took him 184 years to take a bath. My mother on the other hand yells at me for not showering for a day... life's unfair :/

[@jeanlie8253]

LOL

[@Piddles1]

Crazy to think if this turtle is 185 that is was born in 1832. -Andrew Jackson was the US President -Charles Darwin and Joseph Smith were alive -First streetcar was used in NYC Like this turtles seen some shit.

[@MacJaxonManOfAction]

Every living creature on Earth is a whippersnapper to this dude. Respect!

[@murphy1334]

What an honor it must be to wash such a magnificent animal :)

[@deepfield23]

hes definitely amazing.. and he looks still young for his age, not one day older than 175, id say! :D

[@hi-fidude6670]

He is older than the civil war. Damn son

[@rogeld6677]

I actually wish the video was longer and showed more of him after the bath. Such a handsome reptile.

[@coffeesticks_03]

This is so cute like that guy really looks so happy to take care of that turtle

[@arielrr]

Aww he's like a cute granddad so old, but cute

[@CraftySouthpaw]

Amazing to think that this animal was alive in the days of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War.

[@bagrym]

i love how he keeps on turning around to face his caretaker :D

[@user-dy9dr9go9p]

"Who's washing my back??? Oh man I'm too slow i cant see" , Jonathan is so cute!

[@lorettastuard5828]

How amazing he is. Im a guardian of a baby tortoise 6 months old and will live for 50-80 years......I can watch it for hours and love interacting and caring to its needs.

[@User-om5bv]

The happiness on his face is priceless.. Love Turtles.. Glad to see a specimen so healthy and everlasting.

[@creativestrategyintersecti6268]

Wow - fantastic. Amazing to thing that this little animal was born in the 1832, lived through so much history.

[@weeb-stuff]

This tortoise is old enough to have met James Madison, the 4th president of the United States. Wow.

[@andrea.dandelion]

This is adorable! I love how he keeps turning around, probably wondering what's happening to his back, haha :)

[@CaptainBuggyTheClown]

He looks like he's enjoying it.

[@liirumlaarumpewkele3740]

pretty much so

[@tomdrinkwater8542]

I love that he keeps turning, like "Hey, what re you doing back there?"

[@cozypillow1107]

master oogway, is that you??

[@BeardAroundTheWorld]

This was so relaxing to watch...I want the unedited, collector's edition to be released next!

[@lamecasuelas2]

with audio commentary and narration by Morgan Freeman

[@ryanfriedman4329]

Wow, he's lived through a lot of historical events!

[@sockmonkey]

This is the 1st KZbin video I've ever seen that hasn't a single thumbs down and it's magnificent. GO JONATHAN!

[@RawbeardX]

I did the same with my turtle, he had similar reactions. "hooman, stahp!"

[@SrgtBarney]

dude that blade of grass in his eye mustve really been bothering him

[@EmilyLynne1993]

What a handsome boy, he's so precious

[@alanwisdom7777]

amazing 184 years!

[@fancyfreesee1977]

Awe Jonathan! Ha! He's adorable for an old bugger! May he have many more free years off roaming & joy. Good job with his 1st bath too. Your right, it's such an incredible honor.

[@boogeyman7777]

That's incredible all those years.. reminds me of the oldest woman in the world who was born in the late 1800's (1899 I think) and is still alive , the thought of being part of three centuries is awesome.

[@bazsturgeon3017]

"Yeah boy get in there nice and deep like" - Jonathan

[@HowToTankInMMOs]

I can hear the tortoise now..."What the hell are you doing back there you whipper snapper? Don't you know I'm 184 years old? I haven't bathed since I was born and I don't need a bath now. You just sit still so I can bite your hands off."

[@IsMaski]

He is such a cutie. Wish i could meet Jonathan. Bless him. And thanks to vet taking care of him. He looks so healthy now.

[@michaelphelan-beecher7941]

This was somehow the most relaxing video I watched in a long time

[@BHuang92]

184 years of dirt, grime, and other stuff washed away.......

[@VC_Jen]

Very cool! Thanks for caring for such a magnificent tortoise.

[@whalesong999]

What a 'good ol' boy' he is ! Thanks for sharing the reason for the bath and about the relationship with him. Turtles in general are amazing, surprising how sensitive they are to having their shells stroked and cleaned, they generally like it. Have cleaned quite a number myself (snappers, water turts, box turts) and once, yes, did use Turtle Wax, left a beautiful shine on a snapper.

[@PopRocksV]

So stinking cute. I love how he was soaking up the scrubbies. ♡♡

[@BAllen-bk6ti]

Beautiful animal : ) So nice to see how healthy he looks : ) Hard to believe he was hatched in the year 1832ish? Kudos to you for loving this national treasure : ) Much Peace and Love : )

[@juanzarate284]

Jonathan is a good boy.

[@dnodna5094]

Jonathan like a boss! Live long and prosper.

[@anonymous-vg7kc]

Legend and wise.he knows it all.

[@Gozmito]

This video is too pure for this world

[@frenchjr25]

I am wondering what lead to the decision that he needed to be washed.

[@sthelenagovernment1638]

+William French Find out more on www.sainthelena.gov.sh/jonathan-takes-a-bath/

[@F125yourself]

Seriously??? 28,264 views and NO ONE has anything to say??? Dr. Joe, you are very fortunate and I for one envy you! Johnathan definately didn't know just what to think about that bath. At 184 he still moves pretty good!!!

[@TheTheoblue]

Is there an extended cut out there. That was amazing and I would like to see more.

[@Riac007]

why did I just watch this guy buff an old turtle?. sigh, I need a girlfriend

[@johndonnesgf]

I love when animals have human names lol

[@BenteVienberg]

184 years old? WOW. Love it ;0)

[@garyfrombuffalo]

That is amazing 184 years, wow

[@hdb80]

Seriously, tortoises are dinosaurs.

[@barbryll8596]

ahhh nothing better than a good scrub .......he looks great!! handsome fellow indeed 😌

[@waverlymike]

It's gotta be so incredible to love your job that much.

[@Kryptocleric]

Yeah, the smile at the end really makes this!

[@just0r]

184 years old! Crazy! Turtles are so cool

[@markdouglas2464]

He may be a wise Turtle, a very wise Turtle indeed.

[@AEGIPAN101]

What a gorgeous creature

[@thomasfield585]

very beautiful tortoise!

[@liirumlaarumpewkele3740]

ugly af

[@vybhavjain6285]

Beautiful animal and beautiful work. I love nature.

[@liquidsword29]

I think it's very amazing... and congrats for the honor.!

[@ikklepip]

What a wonderful creature!

[@mathieuleader8601]

his shell is so shiny now

[@user-wf8tj9gt3j]

this is an amazing turtle!

[@eduardormbr]

nice work! beautiful animal!

[@bestamerica]

' very very beautifully cute sweet turtle... how to know turtle is 184 ages... where is the birthdate and birth certificate of this cute turtle... need to prove it... turtle is not know how old... turtle love bath and water

[@megatravis324]

Long live Jonathan!

[@sandedra329]

Woooowwww....... Thaaaattt.....feeeeeelllllssss..... Goooooodddd...

[@myravega2759]

there you go jo...feeling fresh !!

[@naota3k]

Looking good Jonathan!

[@spacesfambience3610]

Is anyone able to tell me what the difficulty would be in meeting Jonathon? Is that something anyone could do?

[@korazuko7389]

This video made my day. :D

[@Odyssey432]

thank you, you have inspired me to reach my goal.

[@gamingclipz3343]

Is there any updates on jonathan the tortoise

[@mattthecat9576]

Beautiful animal !!

[@gabrielthompson1072]

Nothing more relaxing than to wash-off the ole turtle.

[@Masthapwner]

I'm so glad this is trending.

[@kristinainsf6702]

Does the dirt and grime protect jonathan in any way? he's lived this long, why disrupt his personal eco-system. Cheers if its for the better.

[@berrybbenson8342]

he looks good enough to be 50 imo

[@EvelynNinja]

It's so cute!

[@GilbertTheWeird]

Pretty sure that bath took off a few years off Jonathan's shell.

[@Shane101A]

Amazing video.

[@eveningserenity1577]

That's 184 years worth of dirt washed off. Must be nice

[@Blueflower-mz3qw]

It had grass in its eye.😭

[@satchboogie2058]

That is one sick Blastoise. Kudos for catching it.

[@ninja1676]

Wow born 6 generations ago.

[@Tirfing88]

Joe commented: “It is purely for aesthetic reasons. We want visitors and tourists on the Island to witness the tortoises in their true form, without the obstruction of moss and lichen on their shells. There is so much interest in Jonathan, St Helena’s most famous animal resident, and we want all who visit him to see him at his best.” Why would you do that? Damn its 184 years of life, he's fine with all the stuff on his shell, has been fine for 184 years, why do it for the sake of pleasing tourists? FFS hope this doesn't affect it.

[@draizze8329]

There you go, nice and shiny shell

[@carolinatrevino]

This is so cool!!

[@Alex-tw8nb]

this is awesome

[@RyuzenTV]

This turtle not a Ninja ... Maybe a SUMO TURTLE !!!

[@lastochka321]

So wonderful tortoise, it is real male. Please, could you make more videos about the tortoise's life?

[@SIG442]

Amazing animal, I would love to meet this amazing creature and make some photo's of it :)

[@Chocolategaijin]

I didn't even know Turtles were that big💛💛💜

[@MichaelAiyedun]

Man about time I mean that turtle hasn't bath in almost 2 centuries! And lord knows he started stinking after the first 5 decades

[@gloiven]

he made it to 184 without a bath. that's amazing. what's dumb is applying what appears to be regular drug store soap to it's shell, scouring, and perhaps ruining a decades old naturally created UV protective barrier. Hands Off!

[@belony20]

To look at the tortoise in the eyes would be amazing!

[@NASTEfilms]

"gentle circular scrubbing" xD that dude is going as hard as he can. you could probably take a pressure washer to that shell and he'd be fine