Jonathan, the Seychelles giant tortoise, on the grounds of Plantation House Born c. 1832, Jonathan is the world's oldest tortoise and possibly the world's oldest living land animal. Pictured on the lawn at Plantation House, the official residence of the governor of Saint Helena Island. (more) Jonathan (Seychelles giant tortoise) Seychelles giant tortoise Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/animal/Jonathan-giant-tortoise Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

　　External Websites Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Jono Written by Barbara A. Schreiber Barbara Schreiber is an Editorial Assistant at Encyclopædia Britannica. Barbara A. Schreiber Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Mar 18, 2025 • Article History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " How old is Jonathan the Seychelles giant tortoise? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "While Jonathanu2019s exact age is unknown, he was fully grown when he arrived on Saint Helena in 1882. Jonathan celebrated his official 192nd birthday of December 4, 2024, making him the oldest living land animal ever known." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Where does Jonathan the tortoise live? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Jonathan lives on the grounds of Plantation House, the residence of the governor of Saint Helena." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What is Jonathanu2019s diet? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Jonathanu2019s diet consists of grass, hay, and seasonal fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, bananas, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, and cucumbers." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " Who takes care of Jonathan? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Veterinarian Joe Hollins takes care of Jonathan, providing him with a supplemented diet and hand-feeding him due to his vision loss." } } , { "@type" : "Question", "name" : " What special recognition has Jonathan received? ", "acceptedAnswer" : { "@type" : "Answer", "text" : "Jonathan has earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest living land animal and has been featured on commemorative Saint Helena postage stamps and coins." } } ] } Top Questions How old is Jonathan the Seychelles giant tortoise? While Jonathan’s exact age is unknown, he was fully grown when he arrived on Saint Helena in 1882. Jonathan celebrated his official 192nd birthday of December 4, 2024, making him the oldest living land animal ever known.

　　Where does Jonathan the tortoise live? Jonathan lives on the grounds of Plantation House, the residence of the governor of Saint Helena.

　　What is Jonathan’s diet? Jonathan’s diet consists of grass, hay, and seasonal fruits and vegetables like apples, pears, bananas, lettuce, cabbage, carrots, and cucumbers.

　　Who takes care of Jonathan? Veterinarian Joe Hollins takes care of Jonathan, providing him with a supplemented diet and hand-feeding him due to his vision loss.

　　What special recognition has Jonathan received? Jonathan has earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest living land animal and has been featured on commemorative Saint Helena postage stamps and coins.

　　Jonathan (Seychelles giant tortoise), a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) who is considered the oldest living land animal ever. Jonathan celebrated his 192nd birthday on December 4, 2024. He is also the oldest living chelonian (turtles, tortoises, and terrapins) known to science. This achievement has earned Jonathan a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records; his longevity puts him ahead of several documented Seychelles giant tortoises, which have an average lifespan of 150 years. Jonathan lives and is cared for on the grounds of Plantation House, the residence of the governor of Saint Helena. Jonathan was brought to ...(100 of 713 words)

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