Facts about Jonathan the Tortoise
- 07
Jonathan shares his Saint Helena enclosure with David, a younger tortoise introduced in 2017 to provide companionship during his final decades.
- 06
Over 50 veterinarians have examined Jonathan the tortoise throughout his life on Saint Helena, with detailed medical records documenting his health since the 1960s.
- 05
Jonathan's eyesight has significantly deteriorated in recent years, with cataracts affecting both eyes and requiring veterinary care from Saint Helena's medical team.
- 04
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Jonathan the tortoise served as a symbol of British imperial heritage on Saint Helena, attracting visiting dignitaries and naval officers to observe the island's most famous resident.
- 03
At approximately 188 pounds, Jonathan the tortoise weighs roughly as much as an adult human despite being the oldest known land animal alive.
- 02
Residing on the remote island of Saint Helena since 1882, Jonathan has survived two world wars and witnessed nearly 140 years of technological transformation.
- 01
Born around 1832 on the Seychelles Islands, Jonathan the tortoise has lived longer than any other land animal on record at over 190 years old.