Additional Coverage:
LONDON – The world’s oldest land animal, Jonathan the tortoise, is very much alive – despite false reports of his death on April Fools’ Day.
Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise believed to be 193 years old, continues to roam slowly around St. Helena island in the South Atlantic. Anne Dillon, head of communications for the island, confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that the rumors of Jonathan’s passing were entirely fabricated.
The hoax originated from a fake social media post on X, impersonating Joe Hollins, a veterinarian who once cared for Jonathan. The post, which falsely announced the tortoise’s death and mourned the “gentle giant” that had outlived empires and generations, quickly went viral, garnering nearly two million views and an outpouring of condolences.
Hollins later clarified on Facebook that he has no X account and warned the public about a scam linked to the hoax, which solicited cryptocurrency donations. “It’s a con,” he said.
Jonathan holds the Guinness World Record as the oldest living land animal and oldest tortoise ever recorded. He was estimated to be around 50 years old when he arrived on St. Helena in 1882.
The local government provided recent photographs of Jonathan ambling around the grounds of the governor’s residence, located on the historic island famously known as Napoleon Bonaparte’s place of exile after his defeat at Waterloo. Jonathan’s remarkable lifespan has spanned well beyond the era of the former French emperor, who died there in 1821.