Jonathan is celebrating his 190th birthday this weekend on the beautiful island of St Helena!
St Helena, Atlantic Ocean (3 December 2022) – Regarded as St Helena’s national treasure, Jonathan the giant tortoise is estimated to be 190 years old.
The average lifespan of a turtle or tortoise is highly dependent on the species. Some species only live 10 to 20 years in captivity, while others can live up to 150 years but in Jonathan’s case, the old man has lived to 190! He also holds two Guinness World Record titles: The oldest living land animal in the world and the oldest chelonian – a category which includes turtles, terrapins and tortoises – to have ever lived.
St Helena is a bucket list destination and a breath of fresh air for travellers. The remote volcanic tropical island is 1,950 kilometres west of the coast of southwestern Africa, and 4,000 kilometres east of Rio de Janeiro in South America. It is truly a destination where you disconnect to reconnect. St Helena also has strong linkages to South Africa – King Dinuzulu and some 6,000 Boer Prisoners of War were exiled to St Helena!
The island will be celebrating Jonathan’sn’s 190th birthday this weekend, with planned activities taking place on the island and the main event – Plantation Christmas Market – taking place on Sunday.
Check back next week as we’ll be publishing all the incredible photos from the celebrations!
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