Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, has officially celebrated his 190th birthday on December 4th. Born in the Seychelles, Africa’s smallest country, Jonathan was gifted to the governor of Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic, in 1882. He still lives in the grounds of the governor’s house to this day.

Despite officially turning 190, some believe Jonathan could potentially be even older. Seychelles giant tortoises reach maturation at around the age of 50, at which point they stop growing. When he was gifted to the governor of Saint Helena, Jonathan had already reached maturation and was 120 cm in size. His actual birthdate remains a mystery, however, last month the current governor of Saint Helena gave Jonathan an official birthday of December 4.

In honor of this occasion, the island held a three-day celebration to mark the milestone. Despite his advanced age, Jonathan is still a much-loved and important figure on the island. He has been officially recognized as the oldest living animal in The Guinness Book of Records and his image appears on the back of the Saint Helena five pence coin.

Due to his advanced years, Jonathan is unfortunately blind with cataracts. However, he still has friends to keep him company in the form of three other tortoises – Emma, David, and Frederika. While Jonathan has lived on the island for over 140 years, his three companions are all much younger, with Frederika being the youngest at 31 years old.

Jonathan’s long life is a testament to the longevity of Seychelles giant tortoises and serves as a reminder of the importance of conservation efforts for these amazing animals. Despite his age and his challenges, Jonathan remains a beloved member of the Saint Helena community and an inspiration to us all.