University of Oxford tortoises
{{short description|Tortoises at University of Oxford colleges}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}
File:Manny's best photo.jpg quadrangle in 2017]]
The University of Oxford, located in Oxford, England, has a long tradition of keeping tortoises as college pets. Many of the university's 43 colleges have a pet tortoise that an undergraduate student, elected the "Tortoise Keeper,"{{Cite web |title=JCR Elections 2023–2024 |publisher=Corpus Christi JCR |url=https://www.corpusjcr.org/jcr-life-whos-who-jcr-elections-2023-2024/ |access-date=2025-04-09 |language=en-US}} looks after.
Each Trinity term, the colleges bring their tortoises together for the Annual Corpus Christi Tortoise Fair.
History and overview
Tortoise keeping has been observed at the university for many years, though no exact date is known. Corpus Christi's oldest evidence of the practice comes from a college photograph from 1898.{{fact|date=May 2025}}
Oriel College has one of the longer records of tortoise keeping, going back as far as 1896, but the first known record was the entrance of Mr Testudo{{Cite news|date=2022-02-06 |title=A look back at the Queen's visits as we celebrate 70 years |url=https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/19900471.look-back-queens-visits-celebrate-70-years-service/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |newspaper=Oxford Mail|location=UK |language=en}} in 1938 when his arrival was announced in The Times newspaper:
{{quote|On May 28, 1928 at Oriel College Oxford, to Georgina, wife of O.C. Testudo-a son (Whalley George).
Georgious exultant, nato testudine, Whalley.
Est bene, si possis credere Temporbius{{Cite book |title=Oriel College: A History |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=0199595720 |editor-last=Catto |editor-first=Jeremy |publication-date=January 28, 2014 |pages=743}}}}
In 1948, the then Princess Elizabeth, visited Oxford and upon her visit to Oriel College a photo was captured of her with Mr. Testudo.
Oriel College has taken much pride in their tortoises over the years and, early on in the tradition, the tortoise became a symbol of the famous Oriel College Boat Club.{{Cite book |title=Oriel College: A History |date=January 28, 2014 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0199595723 |editor-last=Catto |editor-first=Jeremy |pages=631}}
Other than Mr. Testudo, another Oxford tortoise has been in the spotlight. Emmanuelle, or Manny, of Regent's Park College appeared on the television programs Nationwide and Blue Peter in the 1980s.{{Cite web |title=We are very sad to announce that Emmanuelle, the College's much loved tortoise, has died {{!}} |url=https://www.rpc.ox.ac.uk/we-are-sad-to-announce-that-emmanuelle-the-colleges-much-loved-tortoise-has-died/ |access-date=2025-04-23}} Emmanuelle was bought by the college from Oxford's Covered Market in 1976 and lived at Regent's until her death in 2022.{{Cite news |date=2022-10-05 |title=Oxford college's 'most important resident' tortoise dies |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-63144778 |access-date=2025-04-23 |language=en-GB}} Originally, Emmanuelle was thought to be a male and was named Immanuel or Emanuel,{{Cite magazine |date=2011–2012 |title=Welcome to Regent's Now |magazine=Regent's Now |page=2}} but this was later revealed to be false and her name was changed to Emmanuelle. After her passing, Regent's Park memorialized her in a new stained glass window in their chapel.{{Cite web |date=2023-02-15 |title=Regent's Now 2022 |url=https://issuu.com/regentsoxford/docs/rp_regent_s_now_2022_online |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Issuu |page=6 |language=en}}
Annual Tortoise Fair and race
Each Trinity Term, since the tradition was started in 1974,{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Emily |date=2013-05-25 |title=Oxford in suspense for Corpus tortoise fair |url=https://cherwell.org/2013/05/25/oxford-in-suspense-for-corpus-tortoise-fair/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=Cherwell |language=en-GB}} Corpus Christi has hosted the Annual Tortoise Fair and race.{{Cite web |title=Tortoise Fair – Corpus Christi JCR |url=https://www.corpusjcr.org/clubs-and-societies/tortoise-fair/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |language=en-US}} All proceeds from the Annual Tortoise Fair and race go to a charity. The charity is selected by the Corpus Christi JCR, or Junior Common Room, in a vote. In the past, the proceeds have gone to charities such as the Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal,{{Cite web |date=2022-06-06 |title=Tortoise Fair raises over £7,000 for the DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal |url=https://www.ccc.ox.ac.uk/about-corpus/whats/news/tortoise-fair-raises-over-ps7000-dec-ukraine-humanitarian-appeal |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Corpus Christi College Oxford}} Papyrus UK Suicide Prevention, and Rory's Well.
At the start of each race, the tortoises are placed in a circle by their respective Tortoise Keeper, or more officially called the "Custos Testudium," inside a larger circle of lettuce.{{Cite web |last=admin |date=2022-02-28 |title=What is the Oxford University Tortoise Race and Fair? - History, Fun Facts |url=https://oxfordvisit.com/articles/oxford-university-tortoise-race-and-fair/ |access-date=2025-04-25 |website=OxfordVisit |language=en}} Some of the colleges that do not have a pet tortoise send a student to represent them at the race. These students, called "human tortoises" or "Oscar d'Tortoise,"{{Cite web |last=Clyde |first=Toby |date=2016-02-20 |title=Lettuce eating mandated by Magdalen JCR |url=https://www.oxfordstudent.com/2016/02/20/70418/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=The Oxford Student |language=en-GB}} must eat a head of lettuce, then crawl to the finish line, avoiding any of their smaller competitors on the way.{{Cite web |last=eotw_admin |date=2023-06-19 |title=Once Again, the Tortoise Wins the Race! |url=https://www.efx.co.uk/once-again-the-tortoise-wins-the-race/ |access-date=2025-04-24 |website=EFX |language=en}} The first tortoise and first human tortoise to the cross the lettuce finish line are the winners.
Race winners of recent years
;2025
Foxe - Corpus Christi College
;2024
Kale - Nuffield College
;2023
Aristurtle-St. Peter's College
;2022
Tortilla-Lincoln College
;1993
Rosa Luxembourg-Balliol College
;1992
Rosa Luxembourg-Balliol College
;1980
Emmanuelle - Regent's Park College{{Cite book |title=Pelican Record |publisher=Corpus Christi College}}
;1979
Emmanuelle - Regent's Park College
;1978
Emmanuelle - Regent's Park College
;1977
Emmanuelle - Regent's Park College
;1974
Fred - Oriel College