Overview
- Guinness World Records officially designated Jonathan an ICON on Wednesday, June 17, confirming he remains the world’s oldest known living land animal at an estimated 194 years.
- The age estimate rests on a photograph dated between 1882 and 1886 that shows Jonathan already fully grown after his arrival from the Seychelles, supporting a conservative birth year of about 1832.
- Plantation House caretakers and local veterinarians report Jonathan has lost his sight and sense of smell but continues to eat, bask, and remain active in the governor’s paddock.
- Research teams have begun DNA and cellular analyses to search for biological mechanisms such as slow metabolism, DNA repair, and negligible senescence that might explain his exceptional lifespan.
- The ICON recognition reinforces Jonathan’s role as a cultural and tourism symbol for St Helena and follows earlier false reports of his death that were debunked in April.