World’s oldest known tortoise dies aged 193: Jonathan – who met the late Queen when she was a princess – ‘passes away peacefully’
He was the world’s oldest known turtle and even met the late Queen when she was a princess.
But fans were left heartbroken after crustacean icon Jonathan died on Wednesday, aged 193.
When the beloved reptile was born, Queen Victoria had not yet taken the British throne, Charles Darwin had not visited the Galapagos, no one had heard of budding writer Charles Dickens, and Germany was a chaotic collection of 39 sovereign states.
Almost two centuries – and eight British monarchs – later, Jonathan passed away peacefully on St Helena, the remote South Atlantic island he called home.
Joe Hollins, the veterinarian who cared for him, wrote on social media late on Wednesday: “Heartbroken to share that our beloved Jonathan, the world’s oldest living land animal, passed away peacefully in St Helena today.”
‘This gentle giant has outlived empires, wars and people.
‘It has been an honor to care for him as his vet for many years; hand-feeding bananas, watching him bask in the sun, and admiring his quiet wisdom.
‘He leaves behind a legacy of resilience and longevity that inspires millions. Rest easy my old friend. You will be missed more than words can express.’
Jonathan, the world’s oldest known turtle and the one who met the late Queen, died at the age of 193.
He was brought to St Helena from the Seychelles in the 1880s and lived in the grounds of Plantation House, the official residence of the island’s Governor.
Turtle, future Queen Elizabeth II. He welcomed Elizabeth II, as well as George VI and the Queen Mother, to the British overseas territory of St Helena in 1947.
Considering he has more time on this earth than most, Jonathan was still living a high-octane life, meeting some of the most famous people in the world and enjoying his sunny home.
Turtle was born to the future Queen Elizabeth II in 1947. He welcomed Elizabeth, as well as George VI and the Queen Mother, to the British overseas territory of St Helena.
He will also enter his next life with memories of meeting the late Duke of Edinburgh and, more recently, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, who was awarded a Guinness World Record certificate recognizing him as the world’s oldest known land animal.
What was Jonathan’s secret? His veterinarian reported that he was healthy and very happy throughout his life, although he lost his sight and sense of smell.
No one knows the turtle’s true age, but it was lucky enough to be photographed in 1882; He was clearly already fully grown at this point, he was around 50 at the time.
Jonathan was brought to St Helena from the Seychelles at this point and lived on the grounds of Plantation House, the official residence of the island Governor.
At just 47 square miles, St Helena is a third the size of the Isle of Wight and about the same size as Disney World Orlando.
The nearest landmass is Ascension Island, 807 miles to the northwest.
In 1957, the late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, fed Jonathan, then 125, during a trip to St Helena.
He continued to make headlines for the next half-century, and after the death of Darwin’s beloved 175-year-old giant Galapagos tortoise, Harriet, in Australia in 2005, Jonathan was recognized as the world’s oldest living land animal.
But in the mid-2010s, at 184, fears began to grow that he would quit.
In response, he turned over a new leaf and allowed his vet to give him his first bath.
The current Duke of Edinburgh encountered the world’s oldest living land animal in 2024, crouching down to meet Jonathan as the turtle craned its neck for a closer look.
Almost two centuries and eight years after Jonathan’s birth, the British monarch passed away peacefully on St Helena, his vet Joe Hollins, pictured left, confirmed.
The centuries-old dirt on his back came out of his shell after being meticulously cleaned with a loofah, a soft brush, and surgical soap.
The vet carefully brushed each part of Jonathan’s shell, known as scales, and removed black mud and bird droppings as the tortoise calmly chewed grass.
Around the same time, he was also put on a special high-calorie diet because it was feared that his health was deteriorating.
The current Duke of Edinburgh encountered the world’s oldest living land animal in 2024, crouching down to meet Jonathan as the turtle craned its neck for a closer look at the visiting royal on the remote South Atlantic island.
