Jonathan, The Oldest Tortoise, Celebrates 190th Birthday With A Three-Day Party

He is the oldest living land animal on the planet.

Damjan

• Published in Animal Stories
• June 7, 2024

Imagine living for nearly two centuries! Seems like a distant dream, right? Well, not for Jonathan, the Seychelles giant tortoise who just turned 190, making him the oldest living land animal on the planet.

Let’s dive into the remarkable life of this Guinness World Record holder. Jonathan isn’t your average tortoise.

Besides being the oldest terrestrial animal, he also holds the title of the oldest chelonian ever recorded. And what's a chelonian, you ask? It's just a fancy term for turtles, tortoises, and terrapins.

Born around 1832, Jonathan spent most of his life on the serene South Pacific island of St. Helena. He was transported there from Seychelles in 1882 when he was estimated to be around 50 years old.

If you do the math, that places his hatch year around 1833. But Jonathan's claim to fame isn’t just his age. He’s also somewhat of a pioneer in the world of animal photography.

Way back when, as he was settling into his new home on St. Helena, someone snapped a photo of him, marking what might be the first-ever photograph of a land animal. That historic moment was captured 140 years ago!

While the exact day of Jonathan’s birth remains a mystery (for obvious reasons), the Governor of St. Helena decided to designate December 4th as his official birthday starting this year. Talk about royal treatment for a reptile!

Living for nearly two centuries isn’t without its challenges. Jonathan may be blind and have a diminished sense of smell, but he’s still kicking – more like slowly crawling. To maintain his sprightly demeanor, Jonathan adheres to a strict diet regimen. Despite his age-related ailments, Jonathan serves as an inspiration to us all.

At nearly two centuries old, this Seychelles giant tortoise holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest living land animal.

Although we don't know the exact date of his birth, the Governor of St. Helena has decided that Jonathan's official birthday will be celebrated on December 4th from this year on.

Land turtles, or tortoises, are known for their impressively long lifespans. Many species can live for several decades; some are even known to surpass a century in age.

For example, the Aldabra giant tortoise from the Seychelles is famous for individuals who often live to be over 100 years old. Another notable example is the Galápagos tortoise, which has similar longevity.

Some biological and environmental factors contribute to tortoises' longevity. Their slow metabolisms and vegetarian diets may contribute to their long lives by reducing stress on their bodies and minimizing the accumulation of toxins.

Additionally, once they reach a certain size, tortoises tend to have very few natural predators, which increases their chances of survival.

"Jonathan's official 190 celebrations announced."

As it happens, 190-year-old Jonathan isn't just famous for his age; he might also be the first land animal ever photographed.

"Jonathan, the oldest, the tortoise, is turning 190 with a three-day party. "

Jonathan is now officially the oldest land animal ever, and his life story is truly fascinating. Of course, being old has its challenges.

Jonathan doesn't see well, and his sense of smell isn't what it used to be. But he's still going strong, enjoying his veggies and moving at his own pace.

He's like a living history book, showing us the value of taking things slow and steady. So, here's to Jonathan, the old tortoise, demonstrating how to age gracefully in a fast-paced world. Cheers to you, Jonathan!

Damjan