The World’s Oldest Tortoise Has Lived Through 41 U.S. Presidents
It’s not every day you meet someone (or something) that was alive during the U.S. Civil War, the reign of Queen Victoria, and the rise and fall of the Soviet Union. But Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, has managed to do just that.
This slow-moving legend turned 192 years old in December 2024, which earned him a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as both the oldest living land animal and the oldest chelonian (that’s the group that includes tortoises, turtles, and terrapins). Here is the story of the tortoise that has become one of the most recognized animals on the planet.
A Birthday Worth Celebrating
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Luke McKernan
Jonathan’s official birthday is December 4, 1832, but that date was picked because the exact year of his hatching is unknown. He was already fully grown when he arrived on the remote island of Saint Helena in 1882 as a gift to the governor. Since giant tortoises reach maturity at around 50, Jonathan could actually be older than 192. That means he might have cracked his shell into the world closer to 1820.
To put that into perspective, Utah wasn’t even a state yet, and Charles Darwin hadn’t published On the Origin of Species. The island celebrates Jonathan’s birthday every year, and the festivities have become a tourist draw. People cheer on a reptile who has lived through 41 U.S. presidents, two world wars, and the moon landing.
Going From Weak to Well-Fed
When Joe Hollins arrived in 2009, Jonathan was in rough shape. Grass and hay weren’t giving him enough nutrition, and age had already left him blind and without a sense of smell. Hollins began hand-feeding him fruits and vegetables—apples, bananas, lettuce, carrots, and cucumbers. The effect was immediate. Jonathan gained strength and weight, and Hollins still feeds him this way today.
The Lawn He Calls Home
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Kevin Gepford
For all his age, Jonathan is no quiet old tortoise who sits in the corner. He’s got quirks. Reports over the years describe him showing interest in objects on the lawn and responding to activity nearby. These days, he enjoys hanging around the courts, apparently listening to the sound of tennis being played. He’s also drawn to the voices of tourists, which makes sense since his hearing is still sharp.
And then there’s his social life. Jonathan shares the Plantation House lawn with three younger tortoises named Emma, Frederik, and David. He’s shown romantic interest in all of them at one point or another, which Hollins notes shows Jonathan’s strong social instincts.
Jonathan’s Long Road
Seychelles giant tortoises usually live about 150 years, so Jonathan has already blown past expectations. Hollins is hopeful that with good care, Jonathan will reach 200. That would make him the first tortoise in recorded history to officially live two full centuries.
For now, Jonathan spends his days grazing on the lawn of Plantation House, sunbathing when it’s warm, and retreating into piles of leaves when it’s chilly. He doesn’t know he’s famous, but the crowds that come to see him certainly do, especially after all he’s lived through.