Tortoise Jonathan, World’s Oldest Land Animal Turns 191

The world’s oldest living land animal, Jonathan the tortoise, turned 191 years old this week.

According to Guinness World Records (GWR), this Seychelles giant tortoise was born around 1832. Heartwarming photos of Jonathan’s birthday celebrations have gone viral on social media.

According to GWR, tortoises live up to 150 years and Jonathan has far surpassed it.

The giant tortoise is still hale and hearty despite losing his sense of smell and being virtually blind from cataracts, his appetite remains keen. Jonathan’s favourite foods include cabbage, cucumbers, carrots, lettuce hearts and apples. He especially enjoys bananas.

The oldest turtle in recorded history is a radiated tortoise named Tu’i Malila that lived to be at least 188 and died in 1965.