Born around 1832, Jonathan was already alive before Queen Victoria ascended the throne, long before cars became a common sight on roads, and decades before humans achieved the first powered flight. While generations have come and gone, this extraordinary tortoise has continued his remarkably long journey through history.
Jonathan, a giant tortoise native to the Seychelles, has called the remote island of St. Helena home since 1882. He lives on the grounds of Plantation House, the official residence of the island’s governor. By the time he arrived, he was already fully grown, suggesting he was at least 50 years old—and possibly even older than scientists estimate.