From Jonathan to Alagba: 5 Oldest Turtles in the World

From Jonathan to Alagba: 5 Oldest Turtles in the World

By Sheetal Kumari | May 23, 2025 

Harriet lasted for 175 years and was once the world’s oldest known land animal, having been collected by Darwin in 1835.

Harriet – The Galapagos Wonder

(Image: @Ripleys/X)

From the Galapagos to Australia, she resided in botanical gardens and zoos, where she became a treasured icon until her passing in 2006.

Harriet’s Long Journey

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Presented to Tonga’s royalty by James Cook, Tu’i Malila lived for 189 years and passed away in 1966.

Tu’i Malila – Companion to Royalty

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This radiated tortoise remains displayed at the Royal Palace of Tonga, a testament to reptilian and royal heritage.

A Legacy that Lives On

(Image: @My_Soul_She_Is/X)

Jonathan is 190 years old and living on Saint Helena. He is the Guinness World Record holder for oldest living land animal.

Jonathan – World’s Oldest Living Tortoise

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Jonathan was picked up in Seychelles in 1882 and was already fully grown, so he must have been born no later than 1832.

Jonathan’s Origins

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Adwaita, who is reputed to be 255 years old, lived at Alipore Zoo in Kolkata before his death in 2006.

Adwaita – The Unverified Giant

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Unverified, though stories date him as far back as 1750. His age is questioned based on a lack of records.

Mystery Surrounding Adwaita

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Alagba was said to be 344 years old, but specialists argue against this assertion. She passed away in 2019 at a Nigerian royal palace.

Alagba – Nigeria’s Tortoise Legend

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

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