Jonathan the tortoise alive and well despite ‘crypto scam’ death hoax
Jonathan, the world’s oldest living land animal, is still alive, contrary to crypto scams claiming otherwise.
The 193-year-old turtle is still kicking, albeit slowly, on the island of St Helena, a British Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic Ocean.
Rumors that the Seychelles giant tortoise had died spread quickly on social media on April Fool’s Day.
A fake X account falsely claiming to be veterinarian Joe Hollins announced the death of the “gentle giant” who “outlived empires, wars, and generations.”
“It has been an honor to care for him as his veterinarian for years, hand-feeding him bananas, watching him bask in the sun, and admiring his quiet wisdom,” the post said.
“He leaves behind a legacy of resilience and longevity that inspires millions. Rest easy, old friend. You will be missed more than words can express.”
The post received nearly two million views.
St Helena’s head of communications Anne Dillon confirmed the reports were a hoax and assured him he was “very much alive”.
Mr. Hollins later clarified that he did not even have an X account on Facebook and said there was a malicious intent involved.
“There’s a hoax going around – it’s not even April Fool’s Day,” he wrote. “The fraudster is asking for crypto donations. It’s a scam.”
Guinness World Records lists Jonathan as the oldest living land animal and the oldest turtle.
He was in his 50s when he was brought to St Helena from the Seychelles as a gift in 1882. He continues to wander the grounds of the Plantation House, the governor’s residence.
Governor Nigel Phillips said: Guard As she was getting ready for bed Wednesday night, she said she started receiving worried messages about the turtle and went to check on it.
“Jonathan is sleeping under a tree in the paddock,” he told the paper.
St Helena, an island of 47 square miles, is part of the region that includes Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. It is famous for being the place where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled after his defeat at the Battle of Warterloo in 1815.
The former French emperor died there in 1821, ten years before Jonathan is believed to have taken his first steps.
