@Rioelder 25 May 2020 more from that month

Jonathan the Oldest Tortoise

Born circa 1832 – five years prior to the coronation of Queen Victoria – Jonathan the tortoise is due to turn 187 years old in 2019. That makes him the **oldest-known land animal** alive today.

This puts him just one year away from the title of **oldest chelonian ever**, currently held by Tu’i Malila, a radiated tortoise that reached at least 188 years old. She was owned by the royal family of Tonga between *c.* 1777 and 1965, and had been presented to them by British explorer Captain James Cook during his third – and final – Pacific voyage (1776–80).

n his lifetime, Jonathan has lived through two world wars, the Russian Revolution, seven monarchs on the British throne and 39 US presidents.  His estimated year of birth also predates the release of the Penny Black, the **first postage stamp** (1840), the building of the **first skyscraper**(1885) and the completion of the Eiffel Tower (1887) – the **tallest iron structure**.  Other human milestones to have taken place in his long life include the **first photograph of a person** (1838), the **first incandescent light bulb** (1878) and the **first powered flight** (1903).  Now the **oldest animal** in the world – among terrestrial animals – Jonathan has outlived the **oldest person ever** by around 65 years. The greatest authenticated age for a human is a "mere" 122 years 144 days, achieved by Jeanne Calment (1875–1997) from France.