Written question asked by Lord Jones of Cheltenham (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 18 April 2018, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 2 May 2018. It was answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Conservative) on Tuesday, 1 May 2018 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

St Helena: Tortoises

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they intend to authorise and commission the removal of cataracts from Jonathan, the oldest giant tortoise in the world who lives in the grounds of the residence of the Governor of St Helena, in order to increase the population of giant tortoises on the Island and improve prospects for tourism to the Island.

Answer: St Helena’s most famous resident, Jonathan the tortoise, is looked after by the island vet who ensures a high-standard of care to the world’s oldest terrestrial animal. After much deliberation on the island, the vet decided removing Jonathan’s cataracts was too high-risk a procedure. I reassure the noble Lord that despite being over 186 years old, Jonathan continues to lead an active life. The climate on St Helena, while perfect for diving and mountain walking, is not conducive to breeding this species of tortoise. The commencement of weekly flights to St Helena from South Africa is a welcome boost to St Helena’s tourism industry, and will allow even more people to meet this much loved member of the St Helena community.

Secondary information