Jonathan, the world’s oldest living tortoise, has added another extraordinary milestone to his already remarkable life. The 194-year-old resident of Saint Helena has officially been named a Guinness World Records Icon.
Saint Helena (18 June 2026) – Jonathan has lived through nearly two centuries of human history. He was already roaming the earth before the invention of the telephone, before the first car and long before anyone had dreamed of the internet… which is funny, because you’re reading this on the internet!
This year, as he celebrates an astonishing 194 years of life, the world’s oldest living tortoise (and oldest living land animal currently documented) has added another remarkable honour to his name.
The beloved giant tortoise of Saint Helena has officially been named a Guinness World Records Icon, with the organisation making the announcement on X (formerly Twitter) on the 17th of June. For a creature who spends much of his day basking in the sun, nibbling on vegetables and enjoying a slower pace of life, it is a fitting tribute to an animal who has become a global celebrity.
Born around 1832, he has lived through the reigns of eight British monarchs, survived World Wars, technological revolutions and countless changes across the globe. He arrived on Saint Helena in 1882 as a young adult tortoise, meaning he was already around 50 years old when he made the journey to the island that would become his forever home.
Today, Jonathan lives on the grounds of Plantation House, the official residence of the Governor of Saint Helena, alongside 3 much younger tortoises (Fredrika is 35 years old and David and Emily are both 58). Despite his age, he continues to enjoy life. While it was reported in 2015 that he had lost his sense of smell and is blind due to cataracts, caretakers say he still has a healthy appetite and particularly enjoys seasonal fruits and vegetables. One of his favourite treats is reportedly a banana, which is hand-fed to him to ensure he gets every delicious bite.
And although his home is not part of South Africa, Saint Helena shares a long and meaningful connection with our country. For generations, many “Saints”, as the island’s residents are known, have travelled to South Africa to live, work and study. Trade routes between the island and southern Africa have helped strengthen those ties, and many South Africans have family, friends or historical connections linked to Saint Helena. The island itself is perhaps best known as the place where Napoleon Bonaparte spent his final years in exile but it’s another famous resident who has captured the imagination of people around the world.
For nearly two centuries, Jonathan has been doing his own thing on a small island in the South Atlantic, now the world is celebrating him for it… it’s hard not to smile at that.
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