A false report of the death of Jonathan, the world’s oldest known land animal, circulated online after a scammer posing as his veterinarian made a fabricated announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter. News outlets including the BBC, Daily Mail and USA Today initially reported the claim before it was debunked.
Jonathan the Tortoise Alive and Well
The hoax post, attributed to “Joe Hollins,” claimed the 194-year-old Seychelles giant tortoise had “passed away peacefully” on Saint Helena. The post detailed a sentimental account of caring for Jonathan, including hand-feeding him bananas.
Checks by the Guardian revealed the X account was based in Brazil and the real vet, who does not use the platform, confirmed Jonathan is “very much alive.” The impersonator was soliciting cryptocurrency donations at the time the BBC published – and later retracted – its report.
Jonathan arrived on Saint Helena in 1882 as a gift and has resided on the grounds of the governor’s mansion ever since. He is a local celebrity, appearing on the reverse of the island’s 5p coin.
Governor Nigel Phillips discovered the false reports Wednesday night after receiving numerous concerned messages. He confirmed Jonathan was “very much alive” and “asleep under a tree in the paddock.”
Phillips jokingly stated Thursday that Jonathan had issued a press statement: “The report of my death was an exaggeration … Mark Twain, not Oscar Wilde.”
Despite being blind from cataracts and having lost his sense of smell, Jonathan remains healthy with a strong appetite for bananas and continues to attempt to mate with two younger tortoises.
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