List of maximum animal lifespans in captivity

Last updated

This is a list of maximum recorded animal lifespans in captivity. Only animals from the classes of the Chordata phylum are included. [1] On average, captive animals (especially mammals) live longer than wild animals. This may be due to the fact that with proper treatment, captivity can provide refuge against diseases, competition with others of the same species and predators. Most notably, animals with shorter lifespans and faster growth rates benefit more from zoos than animals with higher longevities and slow growth rates. [2]

Contents

Mammals

FamilyNameBinomial nameImageMaximum lifespan
Elephantidae Asian elephant Elephas maximus

Elephas maximus (Bandipur).jpg

88 years [3]
Hominidae Chimpanzee Pan troglodytes

015 Chimpanzee at Kibale forest National Park Photo by Giles Laurent.jpg

79 years [4]
Hominidae Bonobo Pan paniscus Apeldoorn Apenheul zoo Bonobo.jpg 70 years [5]
Hominidae Western gorilla Gorilla gorilla Gorilla gorilla gorilla Nbg.jpg 68 years [6]
Elephantidae African bush elephant Loxodonta africana

African Bush Elephant.jpg

65 years [7]
Hominidae Sumatran orangutan Pongo abelii SUMATRAN ORANGUTAN.jpg 64 years [8]
Hippopotamidae Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius

Portrait Hippopotamus in the water.jpg

61.2 years [9]
Delphinidae Orca Orcinus orca Killerwhales jumping.jpg 60 years [10]
Choloepodidae Linnaeus's two-toed sloth Choloepus didactylus Cholepus didactylus - Flickr - Dick Culbert.jpg 54 years [11]
Rhinocerotidae White rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum

White rhino looking up (7765537606).jpg

45 years [12]
Ursidae Polar bear Ursus maritimus Eisbar (Ursus maritimus) im Schnee.jpg 42 years [13]
Ursidae Grizzly bear Ursus arctos horribilis

GrizzlyBearJeanBeaufort.jpg

40 years [14]
Giraffidae Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis

Giraffe Mikumi National Park.jpg

39.5 years [15]
Lemuridae Ring-tailed lemur Lemur catta Ring-tailed lemur from Copenhagen Zoo.jpg 39 years [16]
Ursidae Giant panda Ailuropoda melanoleuca Grosser Panda.JPG 38 years [17]
Vombatidae Common wombat Vombatus ursinus Vombatus ursinus -Maria Island National Park.jpg 35 years [18]
Bovidae African buffalo Syncerus caffer

African buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) male with cattle egret.jpg

32.8 years [19]
Heterocephalidae Naked mole-rat Heterocephalus glaber Nacktmull.jpg 32 years [20]
Camelidae Dromedary camel Camelus dromedarius

Camelus dromedarius on Sinai.jpg

28.4 years [21]
Felidae Jaguar Panthera onca

Standing jaguar.jpg

28 years [22]
Felidae Lion Panthera leo

020 The lion king Snyggve in the Serengeti National Park Photo by Giles Laurent.jpg

28 years [23]
Felidae Cougar Puma concolor

Mountain Lion in Glacier National Park.jpg

27 years [24]
Cervidae Fallow deer Cervus dama

Dulmen, Wildpark -- 2018 -- 3762.jpg

27 years [25]
Felidae Tiger Panthera tigris

Walking tiger female.jpg

26.3 years [26]
Phascolarctidae Koala Phascolarctos cinereus Koala climbing tree.jpg 25 years [27]
Bovidae Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra

Blackbuck male female.jpg

23.9 years [28]
Castoridae American beaver Castor canadensis

American Beaver.jpg

23.4 years [29]
Cervidae Mule deer Odocoileus hemionus

Mule buck elk creek m myatt (5489214303).jpg

22 years [30]
Canidae Red fox Vulpes vulpes

Vulpes vulpes ssp fulvus.jpg

21.3 years [31]
Canidae Grey wolf Canis lupus

Eurasian wolf 2.jpg

20.6 years [32]
Leporidae European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus Oryctolagus cuniculus Rcdo.jpg 18.8 years [33]
Mustelidae Giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis

Giant otters (Pteronura brasiliensis).jpg

17.3 years [34]
Bovidae Pronghorn Antilocapra americana

Antilocapra americana.jpg

15.5 years [35]

Birds

FamilyNameBinomial nameImageMaximum lifespan
Phoenicopteridae Greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Old Greater Flamingo Adelaide Zoo dailyshoot.jpg 83 years [36]
Cacatuidae Pink cockatoo Cacatua leadbeateri Cacatua leadbeateri -SW Queensland-8.jpg 82 years [37]
Cathartidae Andean condor Vultur gryphus

AndeanCondorMale.jpg

80 years [38]
Corvidae Common raven Corvus corax

Corvus corax.001 - Tower of London.JPG

69 years [39]
Struthionidae Ostrich Struthio

Struthio Diversity.jpg

50 years [40]
Accipitridae Golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos

Maakotka (Aquila chrysaetos) by Jarkko Jarvinen (crop).jpg

48 years [41]
Anatidae Canada goose Branta canadensis

Canada goose on Seedskadee NWR (27826185489).jpg

42 years [42]
Columbidae Rock dove Columba livia

Paloma bravia (Columba livia), Palacio de Nymphenburg, Munich, Alemania01.JPG

35 years [43]

Reptiles

FamilyNameBinomial nameImageMaximum lifespan
Testudinidae Aldabra giant tortoise Aldabrachelys gigantea Jonathan the tortoise at Plantation House.jpg 194 years [44]
Crocodylidae Nile crocodile Crocodylus niloticus

NileCrocodile.jpg

124 years [45]
Alligatoridae American alligator Alligator mississippiensis

Alligator Muja, Belgrade Zoo.jpg

87 years [46] [47]
Iguanidae Rhinoceros iguana Cyclura cornuta Boston-Rhino-Iguana.jpg 42.9 years [48] [49]
Boidae Green anaconda Eunectes murinus Sucuri verde.jpg 42 years [50]
Boidae Boa constrictor Boa constrictor

Boa constrictor, Vankovka, Brno (2).jpg

40.4 years [51]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "TPWD: Animal Life Spans -- Young Naturalist". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved 2023-02-22.
  2. ↑ Tidière, Morgane; Gaillard, Jean-Michel; Berger, Vérane; Müller, Dennis W. H.; Bingaman Lackey, Laurie; Gimenez, Olivier; Clauss, Marcus; Lemaître, Jean-François (2016-11-07). "Comparative analyses of longevity and senescence reveal variable survival benefits of living in zoos across mammals". Scientific Reports. 6 (1) 36361. Bibcode:2016NatSR...636361T. doi:10.1038/srep36361. ISSN   2045-2322. PMC   5098244 . PMID   27819303.
  3. ↑ "Dakshayani, oldest Asian elephant, dies". The Hindu . 5 February 2019. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  4. ↑ "Oldest Living Chimp Has Died". Newsweek . 15 November 2017. Archived from the original on 28 January 2025. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  5. ↑ Stillbauer, Thomas (1 February 2023). "Mach's gut, Margrit: Wohl ältester Bonobo der Welt in Frankfurter Zoo gestorben" [Goodbye, Margrit: Probably the world's oldest bonobo has died at Frankfurt Zoo]. Frankfurter Rundschau (in German). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  6. ↑ Kayser, Antje (11 April 2025). "Älteste Gorilla-Dame der Welt: Fatou feiert 68. Geburtstag im Berliner Zoo" [World's oldest female gorilla: Fatou celebrates her 68th birthday at Berlin Zoo]. Tag24 (in German). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  7. ↑ "African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  8. ↑ "Tierpark Hagenbeck: Wohl ältester Orang-Utan der Welt - Ziehsohn hält Bella fit" [Hagenbeck Zoo: Probably the world's oldest orangutan - foster son keeps Bella fit]. Der Tagesspiegel Online (in German). 28 August 2025. ISSN   1865-2263 . Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  9. ↑ "Common Hippopotamus articles - Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  10. ↑ Palmer, Mark J. (21 May 2020). "Meet Corky, the Longest-Held Orca in Captivity". International Marine Mammal Project. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
  11. ↑ "Oldest sloth in captivity ever". Guinness World Records . Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  12. ↑ "White rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  13. ↑ "Tributes pour in after oldest polar bear dies in Winnipeg". CBC.ca . 18 November 2008. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  14. ↑ "Brown bear (Ursus arctos) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  15. ↑ "Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  16. ↑ "Oldest living lemur in captivity". Guinness World Records . Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  17. ↑ "'Oldest' panda in captivity Jia Jia dies at the age of 38". BBC News . 16 October 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  18. ↑ "Oldest wombat in captivity ever". Guinness World Records . Archived from the original on 30 April 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  19. ↑ "African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  20. ↑ Sansom, Will (21 December 2010). "Longest-lived naked mole rat in captivity dies after 30 years". UT Health San Antonio . Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  21. ↑ "Dromedary (Camelus dromedarius) longevity, ageing, and life history". www.genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  22. ↑ "Jaguar (Panthera onca) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  23. ↑ "Lion (Panthera leo) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  24. ↑ "Cougar (Puma concolor) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  25. ↑ "Fallow deer (Dama dama) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  26. ↑ "Tiger (Panthera tigris) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  27. ↑ "World's oldest koala dies at 25". The Japan News . 25 November 2022. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  28. ↑ "Blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  29. ↑ "American beaver (Castor canadensis) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  30. ↑ "Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  31. ↑ "Red fox (Vulpes vulpes) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  32. ↑ "Gray wolf (Canis lupus) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  33. ↑ "Oldest rabbit ever". Guinness World Records . Archived from the original on 28 September 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  34. ↑ "Giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  35. ↑ "pronghorn articles – Encyclopedia of Life". eol.org. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  36. ↑ "'World's oldest flamingo' dies in Australian zoo at 83". BBC News . 31 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  37. ↑ "Oldest parrot ever". Guinness World Records . Archived from the original on 12 January 2026. Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  38. ↑ "Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  39. ↑ "Common raven (Corvus corax) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  40. ↑ "Ostrich (Struthio camelus) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  41. ↑ "Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  42. ↑ "Canada goose (Branta canadensis) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  43. ↑ "Rock dove (Columba livia) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  44. ↑ Millward, Adam (27 February 2019). "Introducing Jonathan, the world's oldest animal on land at 187 years old". Guinness World Records . Archived from the original on 13 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  45. ↑ Travers, Scott (5 October 2024). "Meet The World's Oldest Crocodile—Alive Since 1900 And A Father To Over 10,000 Offspring". Forbes . Retrieved 22 January 2026.
  46. ↑ "American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  47. ↑ "Oldest Living Alligator in Captivity". Guinness World Records . 22 May 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  48. ↑ "Iguana at Irwins' zoo reaches record-breaking age". Guinness World Records . 20 January 2021. Archived from the original on 21 April 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  49. ↑ Brazier, Tori (1 February 2023). "Bindi Irwin devastated by death of 42-year-old lizard she grew up with at zoo". Metro.uk . Retrieved 1 February 2026.
  50. ↑ "Oldest living snake in captivity". Guinness World Records . Archived from the original on 6 May 2025. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
  51. ↑ "Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor) longevity, ageing, and life history". genomics.senescence.info. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.