The Journey to Promote the Immutable Records in the World No.20: Thomas- The oldest tortoise in the World

When they adopted Thomas the keeper informed Harry she was 40 years old putting her birth date at 1882.

Thomas lived happily with Ms Hilditch for 56 years at her home in Ilford, Essex, which was bombed in 1945 and a warden managed to rescue her from the rubble.

She was given to Mrs Le Gallez and husband Richard after Ms Hilditch had fallen ill and later died.

June said: ‘The journey from Essex to Guernsey with Thomas was a rather funny one.

‘Staff on the train asked me if I wanted anything to eat and drink and if Thomas wanted any lettuce leaves.’

Thomas is kept company in the garden by fellow tortoises Gorky and Carstaias, who are both 50 years old, and her favourite food is bananas.

The oldest recorded tortoise in Britain was Timmy, a Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise who was believed to be 160 years old when she died in 2004 at Powderham Castle, Devon.

David Alderton, Editor of Practical Reptile Keeping magazine said: ‘Although many people have contacted us about tortoises over 50 years old, some of which they’ve had since childhood, we’ve only heard to date of two individuals who are more than 100 years old.’

Source: dailymail.co.uk

VIETNAM BOOK OF RECORDS- VIETKINGS