Jonathan
How old is Jonathan the Seychelles giant tortoise?
Where does Jonathan the tortoise live?
What is Jonathan’s diet?
Who takes care of Jonathan?
What special recognition has Jonathan received?
Jonathan, who celebrated his 192nd birthday on December 4, 2024, is considered the oldest living land animal ever. A Seychelles giant tortoise, he is also the oldest living chelonian (turtles, tortoises, and terrapins) known to science. He lives and is cared for on the grounds of Plantation House, the residence of the governor of Saint Helena.
Jonathan’s longevity has earned him a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records; he is much older than several other documented Seychelles giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa), which have an average lifespan of 150 years.
Life and history
Jonathan was brought to the island of Saint Helena in 1882 as a fully grown adult from the Seychelles as a gift to then-governor Sir William Grey-Wilson; Saint Helena has had 28 governors since. Photographic evidence documenting Jonathan’s age includes the discovery of an image taken between 1882 and 1886 that pictures him shortly after his arrival on Saint Helena, and a photograph of him with Queen Elizabeth II, who was visiting the island during her youth.
There is no direct record of Jonathan’s birth, but he is believed to have been born in 1832, based on the fact that Seychelles giant tortoises are fully grown about 50 years old, matching his appearance when he arrived on Saint Helena in 1882. Some experts think that Jonathan could possibly be at least 200 years old. Despite the uncertainty regarding his age, in November 2022 Saint Helena Gov. Nigel Phillips declared December 4, 1832, as Jonathan’s official birthday.
As he has for the past century, Jonathan grazes on the lawn of the governor’s official residence, Plantation House, where he roams the grounds with three much younger resident tortoises—Frederik, David, and Emma. He had an unnamed female tortoise for company until 1918. Weighing 400 pounds (180 kg), Jonathan is cared for by veterinarian Joe Hollins, who, after arriving on Saint Helena in 2009, found Jonathan in poor physical condition. Hollins nursed Jonathan back to health by supplementing his diet of grass and hay with seasonal fruits and vegetables, including apples, pears, bananas, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, and cucumbers. Because Jonathan developed cataracts, which resulted in vision loss, Hollins hand-feeds him while wearing thick gloves to protect his fingers from Jonathan’s sharp beak.
Affectionately nicknamed “Jono” by Hollins and other staff on the island, the tortoise was named Jonathan about 50 years after his arrival by Gov. Spencer Davis (1932–38). Despite his age, Jonathan has a strong libido and has formed close bonds with his fellow resident tortoises. On warm sunny days Jonathan can be found sunbathing with outstretched limbs and neck, but in cooler weather he prefers to retreat into piles of leaves or grass clippings, where he hunkers down for most of the day.
Popularity and tributes
Jonathan has lost his sense of smell, but he still has excellent hearing and navigates the island by sound. He is especially attracted to the chatter of tourists and visitors who come in droves to see him and snap photos. Jonathan is also captivated by the sound of tennis and has been seen outside the courts near the governor’s mansion listening to matches. In 1969 it was reported that Jonathan made mischief by overturning the benches outside the tennis courts; this was attributed to loneliness, so David and Emma were brought in that year to give him company. He was also known to interrupt games of croquet by sitting on the balls during play. Jonathan was even a matchmaker for one American couple: a woman was so enamored of him that she said she would marry any man who would take her to Saint Helena to meet Jonathan. One man took up her challenge and, while on Saint Helena in the presence of Jonathan, proposed.
Jonathan is often visited by dignitaries and was photographed giving a ride to the future King Edward VIII. Jonathan has also appeared in many publications worldwide. In recent years officials have arranged birthday celebrations featuring tortoise friendly cakes. In 2019 Jonathan’s image was featured on a series of commemorative Saint Helena postage stamps, as well as on the island’s five pence coins. Hollins wrote about caring for Jonathan in his book Vet at the End of the Earth: Adventures with Animals in the South Atlantic, which was published in October 2023.