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During his visit to Seychelles, the Prime Minister of India met Jonathan, an Aldabra Giant Tortoise estimated to be 194 years old. Recognised by the Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living land animal, Jonathan has become a global symbol of longevity and wildlife conservation.

About Aldabra Giant Tortoise

The Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) is the second-largest living land tortoise in the world after the Galápagos Giant Tortoise. Endemic to the Aldabra Atoll of Seychelles in the western Indian Ocean, it is among the longest-living vertebrates, with many individuals surviving beyond 100 years and some believed to exceed 150 years.

The species is entirely terrestrial and inhabits diverse ecosystems such as scrub forests, mangrove swamps, coastal dunes, beaches, and grasslands (platins). Through continuous grazing, these tortoises create a unique vegetation type known as "tortoise turf," making them important ecosystem engineers.

Key Features

• Scientific Name:Aldabrachelys gigantea (formerly Geochelone gigantea)
• Distribution: Endemic to Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles
• Habitat: Scrub forests, mangroves, coastal dunes, beaches and grasslands
• Size: Can exceed 120 cm in length and weigh over 250 kg
• Appearance: Dark grey to black body with a highly domed shell, long neck, thick scaled legs and a small pointed head
• Diet: Herbivorous; feeds mainly on grasses, leaves, shrubs, herbs and fruits
• Lifespan: Frequently exceeds 100 years, with some individuals living over 150 years

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List:Vulnerable (VU)

Jonathan – World's Oldest Living Land Animal

Jonathan is an Aldabra Giant Tortoise residing on the island of Saint Helena. Estimated to have been born around 1832, he is officially recognised by the Guinness World Records as the oldest living land animal, with an estimated age of 194 years.