World's Oldest Tortoise Jonathan Approaches 200 Years And Continues To Thrive
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 Civil War, and he is still thriving. It's interesting to learn more about Jonathan and how he's been able to survive for this long.
Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) that is estimated to be 192 years old as of 2025. Jonathan is considered to be the world's oldest living land animal, officially earning the title in the Guinness World Records in 2019 after he turned 187 years old.
In 2022, Jonathan received another honor from the Guinness World Records. He not only became the world's oldest living land animal, but also the oldest tortoise ever recorded.
If Jonathan is estimated to be 192 years old, that means he was born around 1832, 27 years before the start of the American Civil War. But that's not the only impressive thing about him. In addition to being born before the Civil War, he was also born before construction started on the Eiffel Tower in 1887. He's older than one of the world's most iconic landmarks! If Jonathan is estimated to be 192 years old, that means he was born around 1832, 27 years before the start of the American Civil War. But that's not the only impressive thing about him. In addition to being born before the Civil War, he was also born before construction started on the Eiffel Tower in 1887. He's older than one of the world's most iconic landmarks! Giant tortoises, like the Seychelles giant tortoise and the Galápagos giant tortoise (one of the amazing animals to see while visiting the Galápagos), are considered to be the longest-living tortoise species.
But at 192 years old, Jonathan has managed to outlive other members of his species. The average lifespan of a Seychelles giant tortoise is 150 years. You may be wondering how Jonathan has managed to live for so long.
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 Civil War, and he is still thriving. It's interesting to learn more about Jonathan and how he's been able to survive for this long.
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Jonathan, The World's Oldest Tortoise, Is 192 Years Old
He was born all the way back in 1833
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Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) that is estimated to be 192 years old as of 2025. Jonathan is considered to be the world's oldest living land animal, officially earning the title in the Guinness World Records in 2019 after he turned 187 years old.
In 2022, Jonathan received another honor from the Guinness World Records. He not only became the world's oldest living land animal, but also the oldest tortoise ever recorded.
If Jonathan is estimated to be 192 years old, that means he was born around 1832, 27 years before the start of the American Civil War. But that's not the only impressive thing about him. In addition to being born before the Civil War, he was also born before construction started on the Eiffel Tower in 1887. He's older than one of the world's most iconic landmarks!
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Although Jonathan hatched in Seychelles, he currently lives on the island of St. Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean. He was a gift to the governor of Saint Helena, which is how he ended up on the island.
Jonathan attracts visitors from far and wide to the remote island of Saint Helena, who hope to visit him.
If St. Helena sounds familiar, it's because it is the same island that Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to after his defeat at Waterloo in 1815.
Jonathan Is Still Thriving Despite Being Almost 200
His environment, caretakers, and physiology all play a role in his long life
Giant tortoises, like the Seychelles giant tortoise and the Galápagos giant tortoise (one of the amazing animals to see while visiting the Galápagos), are considered to be the longest-living tortoise species.
But at 192 years old, Jonathan has managed to outlive other members of his species. The average lifespan of a Seychelles giant tortoise is 150 years. You may be wondering how Jonathan has managed to live for so long.
For starters, it has to do with a tortoise's physiology, or biological makeup. Tortoises have a slow metabolism, a strong immune system that keeps them from getting sick, and strong DNA repair mechanisms, all of which can slow down aging. That still doesn't explain, though, why Jonathan has been able to exceed the average lifespan for his species. Jonathan has been able to live so long as a result of his environment. For starters, he has caretakers that make sure he gets the proper nutrition and care, especially as he ages.
But with Jonathan being brought to the island of St. Helena, he is not exposed to the same predators and potential diseases that he might be exposed to in Seychelles, where he's from.
All of these factors contribute to Jonathan's long life and have earned him the title of the world's oldest tortoise, and are the reason he is almost 200 years old and still seems to be thriving!
Guided tours of Plantation House also allow you to see Jonathan (and the other tortoises that live on the grounds) from the viewing area. Other tours may allow you to get closer to Jonathan and take a selfie with him. But touching Jonathan or any of the tortoises is absolutely forbidden.
Still, the opportunity to even see Jonathan is the experience of a lifetime due to his world records and worldwide fame. And, you can explore the beautiful island of Saint Helena in the process.
It's incredible that Jonathan has been alive since before the Civil War and the Eiffel Tower and is still alive and well in the hands of his caretakers on St. Helena Island. He is clearly well-loved, not just on the island, but around the world. We hope that Jonathan continues to thrive and can reach the 200-year mark!
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