Fellow Racer

  Jonathan (hatched c. 1832) is a Seychelles giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea hololissa) is a subspecies of the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) He is the longest-lived known land animal. Jonathan is a resident of the island of Saint Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.Jonathan, hatched c. 1832, was brought to Saint Helena from the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean in 1882, along with three other tortoises who were around 50 years old. of old. The official name was given to him by Governor of Saint Helena Sir Spencer Davis in the 1930s, and was through 31 governors. He lives on the property and is taken care of after by the state. The age of his ancestors is well known because he was fully mature when he arrived in Saint Helena in 1882. "Fully mature" means at least 50 years old which gives him a hatching date no later than 1832. While Jonathan's photograph was originally believed to be in 1902, it actually is from 1886. This is four years following his arrival in Saint Helena. The measurements taken from the photo show that he was definitely fully mature by the time he arrived in 1886.