Jonathan, the 194-year-old Seychelles giant tortoise recognized as the world’s oldest living land animal, has added another distinction to his remarkable life after being named a Guinness World Records Icon, an honor recognizing record holders whose achievements have left a lasting global impact.
The award was announced Wednesday, celebrating a tortoise whose lifespan has stretched across nearly two centuries of modern history. Living on the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena, Jonathan has become both a scientific curiosity and a beloved symbol of longevity.
Believed to have been born around 1832, Jonathan predates many of the defining landmarks and events of the modern era. He was alive before the beginning of Britain’s Victorian era and long before the construction of iconic structures such as London’s Tower Bridge and Paris’ Eiffel Tower.
His longevity is considered extraordinary even for his species. Seychelles giant tortoises typically live about 150 years, making Jonathan’s estimated age of 194 exceptionally rare.
Veterinarians on St. Helena say the tortoise remains in excellent health despite his advanced age. According to local officials, Jonathan continues to enjoy a hearty appetite, although he has completely lost his sense of smell as a result of old age.
In a 30-second video shared Wednesday by Guinness World Records on the social media platform X, Jonathan appears to examine his newly awarded certificate before calmly moving on with his daily routine. Another scene shows the famous tortoise eating carrots, one of his favorite treats.
St. Helena Gov. Nigel Phillips said the recognition reflects Jonathan’s importance not only because of his extraordinary age but also because of his unique place in the island’s identity.
“Jonathan is truly special to St. Helena and its people,” Phillips said, describing the award as fitting recognition for one of the island’s most celebrated residents.
St. Helena Tourism also welcomed the announcement, calling the honor richly deserved for the territory’s most famous inhabitant.
Known affectionately by island residents as “Ol’ Jono,” Jonathan arrived on St. Helena in 1882 when he was already about 50 years old. He was brought from the Seychelles as a gift for the island’s future governor, accompanied by three other giant tortoises.
Today, Jonathan continues to spend his days roaming the grounds of the Governor’s residence alongside his longtime companions, grazing on grass and basking in the sun.
Earlier this year, the tortoise unexpectedly became the subject of an April Fools’ hoax after false reports claiming he had died circulated widely and were mistakenly repeated by several media outlets before being debunked.
Guinness World Records said Jonathan continues to enjoy a peaceful life in the governor’s gardens, where he remains under careful supervision while delighting visitors from around the world.
The Guinness World Records Icon distinction recognizes record holders, pioneers and internationally influential figures whose accomplishments have had enduring significance beyond their individual records.
Jonathan joins a select list of recipients that includes South Korean girl group Blackpink, actor and former professional wrestler John Cena, astronaut Christina Koch, Nigerian chef and restaurateur Hilda Baci, Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani, and Nepalese double above-knee amputee mountaineer Hari Budha Magar.
For Jonathan, whose life has spanned monarchs, wars, technological revolutions and generations of human history, the latest honor serves as another milestone in a record-breaking journey that continues to captivate people around the world.
