Nationality: St Helena
Inducted: 2026
Notable Record(s):
- Oldest-known terrestrial animal
- Oldest turtle/chelonian
An ICON because...
If you are skeptical about the benefits of slow living, you haven’t met Jonathan the Tortoise yet.
Despite not looking a day over a hundred, this big boy is roughly 194 years old.
Currently lounging on the South Atlantic island of St Helena, this remarkable specimen of Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea Hololissa) was born around 1832, which makes him the oldest turtle/chelonian ever. If that doesn’t sound impressive enough, he is also the oldest-known terrestrial animal, predating even the Victorian Age, London’s Tower Bridge and Paris’s Eiffel Tower.
Despite having lost his sense of smell due to his senior age, the local vets confirm that Jonathan is in great condition and sports a healthy appetite. Intriguingly, Jonathan’s cells don’t appear to mutate in the same way of human cells, and his DNA is currently being analysed for any secrets it may unlock.
However, ol’ Jono (as he’s affectionately known by locals) doesn’t care about being a medical prodigy oldest than New York’s Statue of Liberty.
After a recent social media scare, he happily spends his days with three other tortoises in the gardens of the Governor’s residence, eating grass and basking in the sunshine.
Moisturised, demure, and Officially Amazing!
