Why in the news
PM Modi’s state visit to Seychelles on 28 June 2026 included a stop at the botanical garden in Victoria, where he met local giant tortoises and planted a Coco de Mer palm. This put the spotlight on Jonathan, the oldest living land animal known to humans.
Key facts
- Common mix-up: Jonathan is not a resident of Seychelles. His home is Plantation House, the Governor’s residence on Saint Helena, a South Atlantic territory of Britain.
- Shipped out of Seychelles in 1882 as a present for the Governor, he was by then full-grown, at roughly 50 years.
- The record body gave him “Guinness Icon” status on 17 June 2026.
- In their native islands, giant tortoises are ecosystem engineers: they clear brush, spread seeds and reshape the landscape.
Profile of Jonathan
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|
| Estimated birth | About 1832; symbolic birthday 4 December 1832 assigned by the Saint Helena Governor |
| Age in 2026 | 194 years |
| Home | Plantation House, Saint Helena |
| Record | Oldest living land animal since 2022, passing Tu’i Malila of Tonga (died 1966, aged 189) |
Seychelles giant tortoise
| Feature | Detail |
|---|
| Scientific name | Aldabrachelys gigantea |
| Native home | Aldabra Atoll in Seychelles, a UNESCO World Heritage Site |
| Wild population | Over 100,000 on Aldabra |
| Weight | 250-350 kg |
| Diet | Plant-eater; takes in leaves, grass, fruit and woody growth |
| Longevity | Beyond 150 years is possible |
| Conservation status | IUCN Vulnerable; CITES Appendix II |
Other famous tortoises
- Adwaita: an Aldabra tortoise that died in 2006 at the Alipore Zoological Gardens in Kolkata; its estimated age of 255 years is unverified.
- Tu’i Malila: a Madagascar radiated tortoise that died in Tonga in 1966 aged 189.
- Lonesome George: the last Pinta Island tortoise of the Galapagos; died June 2012.
Exam angle
- Jonathan lives on Saint Helena, not Seychelles; the species is native to Aldabra Atoll.
- Status tags: IUCN Vulnerable; CITES Appendix II.
- Related terms: Aldabrachelys gigantea, Coco de Mer, ecosystem engineers.