Jonathan, the world’s oldest known living land animal, was at the centre of a viral crypto scam death hoax that briefly fooled major news outlets before being debunked.
A fake post on X (formerly Twitter) falsely claimed that the 193‑year‑old Seychelles giant tortoise had died peacefully on the island of St. Helena, with the supposed veterinarian writing that he was “heartbroken to share that our beloved Jonathan … has passed away today peacefully on Saint Helena,” according to The Guardian.
The message also included flattering details about Jonathan’s life and legacy, leading many readers and some news organisations to share the report as fact.
News outlets including the BBC, Daily Mail and USA Today initially reported Jonathan’s death after the fake post gained widespread attention — but checks revealed the account was based in Brazil and not linked to Jonathan’s real vet. The impostor account was allegedly soliciting cryptocurrency donations as part of the scam, which meant the hoax was far from a harmless April Fools’ prank.
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Veterinarian Joe Hollins, who genuinely cares for Jonathan, confirmed via Facebook that the tortoise is “very much alive” and that he does not have an active X account, denouncing the hoax as a “con.” Jonathan’s governor on St Helena, Nigel Phillips, also confirmed the animal was healthy, humorously telling followers that Jonathan was “asleep under a tree in the paddock” and joking that statement of his death was “an exaggeration” in the style of Mark Twain, People reported.
Guinness World Records previously recognised Jonathan as the oldest known living land animal, and despite his advanced age — blind from cataracts and without a sense of smell — he remains in good health and continues his calm routine on St Helena.
