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Meet Jonathan: The 194-year-old tortoise who is the oldest living land ... Jonathan is a 194-year-old Seychelles giant tortoise living on the remote island of Saint Helena. Recognised by Guinness World Records, he is officially the oldest living land animal in recorded history. Despite being blind and lacking a sense of smell, he remains active, enjoys a specialised daily diet, and loves to sunbathe. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to look at a living creature that breathed the same air as Charles Darwin, lived through the abolition of slavery, and was already middle-aged when the lightbulb was invented? Well, that is Jonathan — a giant tortoise who has quietly outlived generations, empires, inventions, and even entire eras. At an astonishing estimated age of194 years, Jonathan is recognised byGuinness World Recordsas the oldest living land animal on Earth and the oldest chelonian (turtle or tortoise) ever recorded. Despite his staggering age, he is still alive today, living a peaceful life on a remote island in the South Atlantic. Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise(Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa), originally brought from the Seychelles to Saint Helena i…

Jonathan, The World's Oldest Land Animal At 194, Named Guinness World ... Home / Trending / Jonathan, The World’s Oldest Land Animal At 194, Named Guinness World Records ICON Local vets confirm that Jonathan, the 194-year-old tortoise, is in great condition and even has a healthy appetite. by Ashmeet Guliani Updated: June 18, 2026 5:33 PM Share Jonathan, the world’s oldest living tortoise, is not only the oldest existing tortoise but is also considered the oldest living land animal in the world. The animal is roughly 194 years old, and Guinness World Records has now named him an official ICON and reaffirmed his status as the oldest living land animal. Here’s everything you need to know about this big guy. Jonathan, Named A Guinness World Records ICON Jonathan the tortoise is officially a Guinness World Records ICON ✨ Believed to have been born c. 1832, Jonathan is the oldest living land animal at the grand old age of 194 years. He is a Seychelles giant tortoise and the average life expectancy of his species is 150. pic.twitter.com/WqxBrM4Z8H — Guinness World Records (@GWR) June 17, 2026 Would you believe that Jonathan, an old and still so adorable tortoise, is older than Paris ’ E…

Jonathan the Tortoise Named Guinness World Records ICON St Helena is home to many extraordinary stories, but none quite like Jonathan – the world’s oldest known living land animal and now officially recognised as a Guinness World Records ICON. This global recognition places Jonathan among an elite group of internationally significant figures whose achievements and impact reach far beyond their field.For visitors to St Helena, meeting Jonathan is more than a check on your bucket list. It is an opportunity to learn about a remarkable part of the island’s history. The ICON status is a distinguished recognition awarded by Guinness World Records to individuals and record-holders whose achievements have made a lasting global impact. Jonathan’s inclusion highlights not only his extraordinary longevity, but also the worldwide affection and recognition he has gained over generations.As part of a global campaign, Guinness World Records selected ICONs whose stories have become cultural touchstones. Jonathan is now firmly among them. Jonathan has lived on St Helena since the 19th century and resides at Plantation House, the official residence of the island’s Governor. Over the years, he…

Jonathan, World's Oldest Living Land Animal, Turns 191 Years Old Jonathan, age 190, in 2022. Image: YouTube/St Helena Tourism Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, turned 191 years old this year! This milestone makes Jonathan the oldest living land animal in the world. Though Jonathan’s exact birthday remains unknown, scientists have estimated the tortoise was born around 1832. At 50, he was gifted to Sir William Grey-Wilson , who later became governor of St. Helena, by Seychelles. Now, he resides with caretaker Tee n y Lucy on an island in St. Helena. Jonathan was granted an official birthday of December 4th, 1832, by current governor Nigel Phillips, but the tortoise may even be older. His age was discovered after a photograph picturing a giant tortoise in 1900 was uncovered. It was then determined the photo was of Jonathan, who was around 70 at the time of the photo. Further proof of his age comes from the fact Jonathan was fully grown when gifted to Sir William. This was in 1882, and a fully grown tortoise is at least 50 years old. About the Species More than 152,000 of these reptiles roam Aldabra today. They are the largest species of land tortoises, weighing as much as 550 p…

Jonathan, World's Oldest Tortoise, Is Nearly 200 Years Old ... - TheTravel By Savanna Stanfield Published Apr 26, 2025, 4:30 PM EDT Savanna Stanfield is a former science teacher turned freelance writer and editor. Her bucket list and travel goals are endless, but her biggest goal is to visit all 50 states before venturing out to see the rest of the world. In addition to traveling, her hobbies include cross-stitching, gardening, and hanging out with her dog, Penny. Savanna currently lives in Alabama with her husband and daughter. Sign in to your TheTravel account The average global human lifespan is around 72 years, but when it comes to other animals, their lifespans can vary significantly. Some of the creatures with the shortest lifespans only live for a day , while some animals live for over 100 years . Some of the longest-living animals on Earth can live for several hundred years or more. One such animal that can live for a long time is the tortoise. In fact, the world's oldest tortoise was owned by both Charles Darwin and Steve Irwin ! But the current world's oldest tortoise is named Jonathan, and he's nearly 200 years old. Jonathan the tortoise was born before the American Civ…

Jonathan the tortoise: Meet the 194-year-old animal who is older than ... For many of us, living beyond 90 is considered a remarkable achievement. Reaching 100 years of age is even more extraordinary. Yet one tortoise has quietly surpassed every expectation of longevity, continuing to make history nearly two centuries after it was born. Meet Jonathan, the world's oldest living land animal, who is believed to be at least 194 years old and still going strong. His incredible age has once again captured global attention after Guinness World Records reaffirmed his status as the oldest known living terrestrial animal on Earth. Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise who lives on the remote South Atlantic island of Saint Helena. Experts believe he was born around 1832, making him older than the invention of the telephone, the light bulb and even modern photography. His age has been estimated based on records showing that he was already fully mature when he arrived on Saint Helena in 1882. To put Jonathan's age into perspective, he has lived through: Few living creatures have witnessed such a vast sweep of human history. Despite his advanced age, Jonathan remains surprisingly active…

Jonathan Tortoise: Where is tortoise Jonathan, world's oldest living ... Global Desk The global curiosity surrounding Jonathan , the world’s oldest known living land animal, has emerged once again following a wave of misleading online claims triggered confusion regarding his condition and whereabouts. The centuries-old tortoise, who resides on Saint Helena , has become a symbol of extraordinary longevity and recently, the subject of widespread misinformation that rapidly spread across social media platforms. Viral confusion over false death reports Inappropriate reports regarding the passing of 194 years old Jonathan, the world's oldest known land animal, spread widely online, wrestling in confusion among people. These originated from a post shared on X by a fake account claiming to be Jonathan's veterinarian. The message, attributed to "Joe Hollins," cited that it was deeply saddening to reveal that Jonathan, the world's oldest tortoise, had died peacefully in St. Helena. It also stated that it had been an honour to care for him over the years, which includes hand-feeding him bananas, seeing him relax in the sun, and experiencing his calm demeanour. The post quickly gained tracti…

Why travellers are flocking to see Jonathan, the world’s oldest living land animal at 194 Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise on Saint Helena, is recognized as the world's oldest-known land animal at approximately 194 years old. Nominated for a Guinness World Records Icons list, he predates many famous landmarks and offers a unique connection to history. Scientists study his DNA to understand aging, while locals cherish him as a beloved symbol of endurance.