183-year-old tortoise goes on healthy diet
- Deaf woman's 911 text to police saves 2 children
- New iPhone feature costs family $2,000
- Watch: Abused dog receives affection for the first time
- Cop finds cold, scared toddler alone in parking lot after carjacking
- Macy's to shutter 40 stores, 4,800 jobs cut
After living for over a century and a half, Jonathan the giant tortoise's health declined.
National Geographic reports his sense of sight and smell were failing, leading him to only eat dirt, leaves and twigs, instead of substantial food.
There was concern that Jonathan, who is the world's oldest living animal, would die soon if his diet didn't change.
The 183-year-old reptile, who lives on the British island terretory of St. Helena, was put on a nutritious diet by Dr. Joe Hollins, a local vet last year.
Jonathan now eats a diet of guava, apples, carrots, bananas and cucumbers.
Hollins is now happy to report that Jonathan is doing well, per the St. Helena information site.
"The feeding has improved him surprisingly," he said. "His once blunt and crumbly beak has become sharp and lethal, so he was probably suffering from micro deficiencies of vitamins, minerals and trace elements."
