Timothy (tortoise)

Timothy (c. 1844 – 3 April 2004) was a 5 kg (11 lb) Mediterranean spur-thighed tortoise, estimated to be about 160 years old at the time of her death. This made her the UK's oldest known resident.[3] In spite of her name, Timothy was female; how to sex tortoises was not properly known in the 19th century. Timothy was named after a tortoise owned by Gilbert White.[4]

Timothy
Timothy in 1993: The tag attached to her says, "My name is Timothy. I am very old – please do not pick me up".
SpeciesSpur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca)
SexFemale
Hatchedc. 1844
Ottoman Empire[1]
Died (aged 160)[2]
Powderham Castle, Devon, England

Timothy was believed to have been born in the Mediterranean shores of the Ottoman Empire (modern-day Turkey)[1] and was found aboard a Portuguese privateer in 1854, aged around 10, by Captain John Guy Courtenay-Everard of the Royal Navy. The tortoise served as a mascot on a series of navy vessels until 1892. She was the ship mascot of HMS Queen during the first bombardment of Sevastopol in the Crimean War (she was the last survivor of this war),[2] then moved to HMS Princess Charlotte followed by HMS Nankin.[3]

After her naval service, she retired to live out her life on dry land, taken in by the Earl of Devon at his home, Powderham Castle. From 1935, she lived in the castle's rose garden and was owned by Camilla Gabrielle Courtenay (1913–2010), the daughter of the 16th Earl of Devon.[2] On her underside was etched "Where have I fallen? What have I done?", English translation of the Courtenay family motto ubi lapsus, quid feci.[5]

In 1926, Timothy's owners decided that he should mate, and then "he" was discovered to be actually female.[3][6] Despite this information, mating attempts were unsuccessful.

Timothy is buried at Powderham Castle.[2]

See also
  • Jonathan (tortoise), the oldest known living reptile as of 2023 (aged 190–191)
  • Lin Wang, Indian elephant who died on 26 February 2003 (aged 85)

References
  1. Bruce (2004), p. 2.
  2. "Timmy the tortoise dies aged 160". BBC News. 7 April 2004. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  3. "War Hero Tortoise Dies, Aged 160". Sky News. 7 April 2004. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  4. Bruce (2004), pp. 17–24.
  5. Bruce (2004), pp. 3–4.
  6. "Facts & Figures". Powderham Castle. 2009. Archived from the original on 27 April 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
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