Guess the age of the world's oldest living land animal

Jonathan, the world's senior-most terrestrial creature, celebrates 191 years of life.

Estimated to have been born around 1832, Jonathan reached full maturity and was at least 50 years old when he arrived on the island of St Helena in 1882 after being transported from the Seychelles. His age is a matter of debate as he might be olden than what we think.

As a Seychelles giant tortoise, Jonathan has significantly exceeded the typical life expectancy for his species, which averages around 150 years. He is showing no signs of "slowing down" according to his long-time vet, Joe Hollins as his appetite remains keen despite losing his sense of smell and eye-sight to cataracts.

“Jonathan is in good health and all the indications at present make us hopeful that he will reach his third century, if indeed he hasn’t done so already!” said Joe.

Jonathan savors a diet comprising cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce hearts, apples, and various seasonal fruits. His particular fondness for bananas, while enjoyable, sometimes leads to his mouth getting a bit sticky.

He boasts two Guinness World Records as the oldest documented living land animal and the oldest chelonian, a category encompassing creatures like tortoises, turtles and terrapins with hard outer shells.

In 2021, he secured the distinction of the world's oldest living mammal, surpassing Tu’i Malila (c. 1777–1965), a radiated tortoise that lived to a minimum of 188 years. 

For 141 years, Jonathan has made Plantation House, the official residence of St Helena's governor, his enduring home since arriving on the island.

Jonathan has witnessed numerous pivotal moments in human history, spanning from the enactment of the UK's Mines Act in 1842, prohibiting women and children from working underground, to the publication of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species in 1859. He endured the abolishment of slavery in the USA in 1865, over a century before witnessing humanity's achievement of putting a man on the moon.

His lengthy life has so far spanned the region of eight British monarchs, 40 US presidents and 26 Manchester United managers.