Jonathan the tortoise remains the oldest living land animal in the world

His name is Jonathan and he is 189 years old. He is a giant tortoise that is considered the longest-living land animal.

Jonathan the tortoise remains the oldest living land animal in the world

He currently resides on the island of St. Helena, located in the Atlantic Ocean more than 1,800 kilometers off the west coast of Angola.

Specifically, Jonathan lives on the grounds of Plantation House, the residence of the island’s current governor. In the town of St. Helena, Jonathan is considered a national symbol, to the point that five pence coins are imprinted with his face, although he has never received an official decoration.

From a scientific point of view, it has never been possible to determine the exact date of his birth. However, historically it is known that Jonathan arrived on the island in 1882 from the Seychelles in East Africa.

It was there that the animal biology experts of the time estimated his age at 50 years. Therefore, from that moment on, the counting of the tortoise’s age began.

Does Jonathan have children?

The reason why Jonathan, a 186-year-old tortoise considered the oldest animal in the world, has never had children despite sharing most of his life with Frederica, his tortoise companion, has always been a mystery.

Is Jonathan the oldest turtle of all?

Jonathan is probably the oldest living land animal but he is not the oldest. Remains of other turtles have been found that were as old as 250 years.