Jonathan's 190th Birthday

Jonathan the Tortoise is the oldest known living land animal on Earth.

As of January 2022, he is also the oldest chelonian ever recorded.

Born in the early 1800s, Jonathan has lived on the remote island of St Helena, in the South Atlantic Ocean, since 1882.

He has spent his island life in the Plantation House paddock, alongside a handful of other (younger!) tortoises.

He has watched more than 30 Governors come and go from Plantation House; watched the island introduce radios, telephones, TVs, internet, cars and an airport. He has lived through two world wars.

This year, the island is helping Jonathan celebrate his historic 190th birthday.
This page will be updated throughout the year, as further events are firmed up. Updates will also be released on St Helena Tourism’s social media channels.

To kick off his 190th birthday year, in January 2022 Jonathan was awarded another Guinness Book of World Records title. Now, he isn’t just the oldest living land animal – he is also the oldest tortoise to have ever lived.
View the new world record listing here.

Submit your

Jonathan Images

here:

Take part in the birthday video collage

Throughout the first half of 2022, we’re collecting video messages from people across the globe to mark Jonathan’s 190th birthday!
Wish him happy birthday, talk about your memories of him, say what he means to you – but do please keep your video messages as short as possible. Messages can be submitted to https://share.vidday.com/b-9gsgye.

Take part in the birthday video collage

Send us your photos of you, your friends and family with Jonathan! We’d love photos taken during as many decades of his life as possible. Later in the year we’ll unveil a ‘Jonathan and Me’ compilation using the submitted images. Submit your images to any of the St Helena Tourism social media accounts via direct message, or via email address sthltourism@gmail.com.

What else to look forward to...

Loads of photos, videos and songs celebrating Jonathan: Everything he has lived through; the people who have connected with him; and DNA research that could change our understanding of the aging process and of cancer.
An application for a National Holiday in the latter months of the year is underway.
Local competitions celebrating Jonathan and local talent – art competitions, souvenir competitions and more. Limited edition portraits, prints and stamps.
A big birthday bash, being planned for the latter months of the year.
Certificates for every 2022 visitor to Jonathan – bearing the first-ever image of his footprint.