PREVIEW

Saint Helena’s beloved national treasure, Jonathan the Seychelles giant tortoise, celebrated his 192nd birthday last Wednesday (4December2024).

Believed to have hatched in 1832, the venerable reptile is thought to be the world’s oldest land animal.

Although his actual date of birth is unknown, officials on Saint Helena used estimates to make the day his official birthday.

Over the course of his remarkable life he has seen the arrival of inventions such as the postage stamp, the telephone, and photography. Plus he has ambled about during the US Civil War, most of Queen Victoria's reign, the rise and fall of the Soviet Union, and two world wars.
Despite the passage of nearly two centuries, he continues to live a peaceful life on Saint Helena, where he has resided since 1882.

Although Jonathan is blind and has lost his sense of smell, he still remains active, with the oldie freely roaming the grounds of the Governor’s House. He’s such a beloved symbol of the island, Jonathan even features on the reverse of the local five-pence coin.

His age is estimated based on his arrival on St Helena as a fully mature tortoise, which suggests he was at least 50 years old at the time.

Jonathan’s enduring legacy is a source of pride for Saint Helena. The tortoise remains in comparatively good health, raising hopes that he will officially enter his third century soon—if he hasn’t done so already.

He’s still even a bit of a goer - as he still gets his 192-year-old legover with companion tortoises Emma and Fred and mates with them.

Happy birthday Jonathan! Here’s to another 192 years!