- Jonathan is recognized as the oldest living land animal by Guinness World Records.
- He celebrated his 194th birthday, living on St. Helena island since 1882.
- Jonathan’s age may be underestimated; he was at least 50 when he moved to St. Helena.
- Throughout his life, Jonathan witnessed significant historical events spanning nearly two centuries.
A tortoise has just joined an elite roster of global figures that includes Cristiano Ronaldo, John Cena, Katie Ledecky and Christina Koch.
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Jonathan, a 194-year-old tortoise, has been awarded a certificate as a Guinness World Records “icon.” The Seychelles giant tortoise is believed to be the oldest living land animal, born around 1832.
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
He now lives on St. Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic where locals know him as “Jono,” according to Guinness World Records.
When he was brought to the island in 1882, he was said to be “fully mature,” meaning he was at least 50 years old at the time. Experts note that his age is a conservative estimate, meaning he could be even older.
To address skepticism around his exact age, Guinness World Records cited a photograph taken between 1882 and 1886. The image shows a fully grown Jonathan with local St. Helenians in the garden of Plantation House, the island governor’s official residence, where Jonathan still lives today.
At 194, Jonathan is doing well, considering his age. While cataracts have impacted his vision and his sense of smell has faded, his hearing remains excellent, according to Guinness World Records.
His nearly two centuries of life have not always been easy. His health began declining in 2009 before he was nursed back to health by Joe Hollins, his primary veterinarian at the time.
“I began to feed him once weekly with fruit and vegetables to boost his calorie intake,” Hollins told Guinness World Records. “Much to my surprise, this once weekly feeding rejuvenated him and gave him back a sharp grazing beak, whereupon I realized of course that through lack of nutrition he was deficient in minerals, vitamins and trace elements.”
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What has Jonathan lived through?
Hollins has previously told Guinness World Records, “It is extraordinary to think that this gentle giant has outlived every other living creature on land, including of course the whole human race.”
Jonathan has witnessed nearly two full centuries of historic events. Britain abolished slavery when he’s believed to have been 2 years old and Queen Victoria acceded to the throne when he was 5. “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” was first published in 1865, when Jonathan was 33.
He also lived through two world wars, the first demonstration of the telegraph in 1837, the introduction of the first American gasoline automobile in 1893 and the popularization of the cowboy hat in 1865.
His lifetime spans the invention of Coca-Cola and the dedication of New York’s Statue of Liberty in 1886. The first World Cup didn’t take place until Jonathan was 98 years old in 1930.
The typical life expectancy for a Seychelles giant tortoise is about 150 years, according to Guinness World Records.
Today, Jonathan’s caretakers focus on his quality of life, saying they “like to give him the best life that we can. He is an icon after all.”
Social media users have also celebrated the milestone. As one X user put it, “What a legend. He hardly looks 180. He must have some incredible stories!”
Other Guinness World Record ‘icons’
The Guinness World Records’ icons list is filled with global figures, athletes and pop culture celebrities, including Shohei Ohtani, Hilda Baci, Barbie, Mario, Taylor Swift, David Attenborough, Jane Goodall, Queen Elizabeth II and Neil Armstrong.
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