Growing old gracefully - meet Freda the 120 year-old tortoise living in a garden in West Yorkshire

Is this Yorkshire's oldest resident?
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Meet Freda, the Mediterranean tortoise, who has reached the grand old age of 120 years-old.

She lives happily in a garden in Pontefract, and, at 120 is already beyond the average lifespan of her species, although the exact age to which tortoises live can vary between type and habitat.

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However, Freda is thriving in West Yorkshire where she has lived for at least the last 60 years.

Fredaricka West pictured with her tortoise Freda, who is around 120 years old and still going strong.Fredaricka West pictured with her tortoise Freda, who is around 120 years old and still going strong.
Fredaricka West pictured with her tortoise Freda, who is around 120 years old and still going strong.

She was bought some 60 years ago by a lady as a gift for her sister after seeing her in a pet shop window. However, as the sisters moved into their 90s they wanted to rehome Freda who could live for decades to come still.

Dog- groomer, Fredaricka West, who already owns a Giant Tortoise called Hippy, was asked by a customer of hers who was friends with the sisters if she would adopt Freda.

Mrs West, 65, of Pontefract Road near Featherstone, said Freda had been a "lovely addition" to the family - although Freda and Hippy don't get along with each other - but Freda is not afraid of Mrs West's dogs or barking.

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"They had had her for about 40 years and needed to take her to the vet for a lump on her face. They put her in a washing basket, got on the bus and made the journey across Leeds to a vet that specialised in tortoises. He treated the problem and and suggested that she was 100 years old at that point - and that was 20 years ago."

Freda, the 120 year-old tortoise.Freda, the 120 year-old tortoise.
Freda, the 120 year-old tortoise.

Still going strong, Freda has been soaking up the recent end of summer heatwave but is preparing to "go underground" for her annual five month hibernation.

At her previous home she buried herself in soil in a greenhouse and, keen to keep her to the routine she is used to, Mrs West brought the same soil to her home in carrier bags and placed it in the garden for Freda to hibernate in.

She said: "She is very worldy and not afraid of anything. Personality wise, they are ruled by the weather. On lovely summer days she has bright eyes. When she wakes up she eats for England and that takes her through the summer months when she is at her liveliest. As the year moves on, she slows down towards the end of August and she is really slowing down now.

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"She always wakes up within the same few days in March, she is very accurate. The ladies would sit in the garden with their coats on waiting for her to re-appear every year. Every year I worry, it is always an anxious time (waiting for Freda to wake up), especially if it has been a harsh winter. We pray that she is going to wake up and I am so grateful when I see movement."

Fredaricka West pictured with her tortoise Freda, which is thought to be 120 years old.Fredaricka West pictured with her tortoise Freda, which is thought to be 120 years old.
Fredaricka West pictured with her tortoise Freda, which is thought to be 120 years old.

Once Freda climbs out of the soil she is very weak and Mrs West bathes her and after a couple of weeks she sets about her favourite foods which are Campanula flowers and dandelions.

When asked about how much longer she thought Freda might live for, Mrs West added: "The lifespan of tortoises in captivity and their natural habitat is very different. I don't want to find out too much information because I might find it upsetting and don't want to feel that her days are numbered.

"I am enjoying each year when she wakes up. She is an old lady but I want to keep her healthy and look after her the best I can."

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