Jonathana giant Seychelles tortoise that lives on the island of Saint Helenaa British territory in the South Atlantic, turned this year 194 years and it remains the oldest living land animal on record in the world. According to the Guinness World Recordswho named him a world icon on June 17, 2026, would have been born around 1832an estimate that is considered conservative: it could be even older.
To put his age into perspective: when Jonathan came into the world, the Victorian era had not yet begun, the Eiffel Tower did not exist and neither did the Statue of Liberty. The reptile arrived in Santa Elena in 1882as an adult, moved from the Seychelles when he was about 50 years old. Since then it resides in the gardens of the Plantation Housethe official residence of the governor, where he lives with three other turtles and leads a quiet existence: he eats, rests and sunbathes.
At almost two centuries old, Jonathan presents some consequences typical of advanced age: he has cataracts, his vision is reduced and he has lost his sense of smell. However, he retains good hearing and maintains an active appetite. Their diet combines grass and carrot pieces. The Saint Helena government describes him as a much-loved resident and a symbol of the island’s identity.
Jonathan’s longevity has a biological basis. Giant tortoises have a very slow metabolism that reduces the rate at which their cells age. Added to a life of low stress, few predators and a vegetarian diet, the result is a life expectancy that far exceeds that of most vertebrates. Jonathan’s species, the Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissahas a half-life of 150 years: he has already surpassed her in more than four decades. In 2021, a DNA sample was taken to study its resistance to cellular damage.
In early April 2026, false rumors about his death circulated on social media, attributed to an account posing as the turtle’s veterinarian. The government of Saint Helena immediately denied them and confirmed that Jonathan was fine. He Guinness World Records He also came out to clarify the situation. At 194 years old and with the title of world icon, Jonathan continues to graze in the same garden as always, oblivious to the number that the world has been counting for him for decades.
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