Commentary
Jonathan, the Seychelles giant tortoise, is estimated to be 190 years old and the world’s oldest land animal, according to Guinness. The giant tortoise is blind and can’t smell, but his hearing is great. He lives a pampered life on St. Helena Island, a British overseas territory located in the South Atlantic Ocean which lies about 1,200 miles west of the southwestern coast of Africa.
The tortoise’s age and longevity is a testament to the commitment humans make to animal safety and welfare. Jonathon’s life has likely spanned three generations of caregivers. With that in mind. we looked into animal longevity by comparison:
- Oldest dog: 29 years – Australian cattle dog
- Oldest cat: 38 years – Crème Puff, a domestic cat
- Oldest primate: 80 years – Cheeta the chimpanzee
- Oldest bird: 83 years – a Major Mitchell’s cockatoo
- Oldest horse: 62 years – Old Billy, a barge horse
- Oldest rabbit: 18 years – Flopsy
Source: Treehugger, December 5, 2022. Link.
Also see: World’s oldest animals: cats, dogs, deep sea creatures and more, Guinness World Records, October 11, 2021. Link.