Jonathan, the world's oldest known living land animal, has quietly called the grounds of Plantation House on the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena home for well over a century.
Now 194 years old, the beloved giant tortoise has received another remarkable honor.
Jonathan has been officially recognized as a Guinness World Records ICON, a prestigious distinction reserved for record holders, pioneers and internationally significant figures whose achievements have made a lasting impact. According to the St. Helena Government, the recognition celebrates not only his extraordinary longevity but also the admiration he has earned around the world.
For the people of St. Helena, however, Jonathan has been an icon for much longer.
Living at Plantation House, the official residence of the governor of St. Helena, Jonathan has become one of the island's most recognizable residents. Known for charming visitors from around the world, he also holds a special place in the hearts of the local community.
Commenting on the recognition, Gov. Nigel Phillips said Jonathan's new title reflects what islanders have long known.
"Jonathan's recognition as a Guinness World Records ICON is warmly welcomed by the people of St. Helena," Phillips said.
"For generations, he has been regarded as a local icon, deeply embedded in the island's identity and collective memory. This global acknowledgment reflects what the community has long known, that Jonathan is not only remarkable in age, but truly special to St. Helena and its people."
Jonathan's remarkable journey has unfolded across nearly two centuries.
Believed to have been born in 1832, he arrived on St. Helena from the Seychelles in 1882 as a gift to then-Gov. Sir William Grey-Wilson. Since then, more than 30 governors have come and gone, while Jonathan has remained a quiet and familiar presence on the lawns of Plantation House. Historic photographs taken between 1882 and 1886 already show him fully grown, happily grazing beside another tortoise.
Over the course of his extraordinarily long life, Jonathan has witnessed remarkable changes on the island. According to the St. Helena Government, he has lived through the arrival of cars, electricity, television, mobile phones and internet connectivity, becoming "a living symbol of resilience" and a constant throughout the island's modern history.
Yet despite the passing decades, Jonathan's days remain wonderfully simple.
He shares his home with three fellow giant tortoises—David, Emma and Fred. Although he has lost his eyesight and sense of smell, his hearing remains excellent, and he still recognizes the voice of his longtime veterinarian, Dr. Joe Hollins, who hand-feeds him once each week to ensure he receives enough calories, vitamins, minerals and trace elements.
According to Hollins, Jonathan's favorite activities haven't changed much over the years.
He enjoys sleeping, eating and mating. His favorite foods include cabbage, cucumber, carrots, lettuce, apples and bananas—although bananas, Hollins once joked, "tend to gum up his mouth." On mild days, Jonathan likes to stretch out his long neck and legs to soak up the sunshine, while cooler weather usually finds him burrowed beneath leaves or grass cuttings to stay warm.
Millions of people around the world first met Jonathan in 2016, when footage of his first bath was shared on YouTube. The gentle scrub, carried out by Hollins using a circular cleaning technique approved by a tortoise specialist, quickly won over animal lovers everywhere.
Looking after Jonathan has remained one of the greatest privileges of Hollins' career.
"What an honor!" Hollins said while caring for the famous tortoise.
"I'm in my profession because I love animals, and I've got here the oldest-known living land animal in the world, and I'm looking after him. Isn't that amazing?"
The new Guinness World Records ICON designation places Jonathan among a select group of globally recognized figures whose achievements have left a lasting impact. The St. Helena Government said the honor reflects the exceptional significance of Jonathan's place in the island's heritage and identity.
Today, at 194 years old, Jonathan still spends his days grazing the lawns of Plantation House much as he has for decades, moving at the same unhurried pace that has made him one of St. Helena's most cherished residents.
While Guinness World Records now officially recognizes him as an ICON, to the people of St. Helena he remains what he has always been—a much-loved neighbor whose remarkable life has quietly become part of the island's story.
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