Jonathan, the world’s oldest known living land animal, has become the unlikely target of a global hoax after a fake social media account falsely announced his death and linked the claim to a cryptocurrency scam. Multiple major news outlets published reports stating that the 194-year-old Seychelles giant tortoise had died, before retracting them when the story was exposed as fraudulent. 

The false announcement, posted on X, came from an account impersonating Jonathan’s longtime vet, “Joe Hollins”. The message claimed the famed tortoise had “passed away today peacefully on Saint Helena” and was shared more than 2 million times. But checks quickly revealed the account originated in Brazil, and the real Hollins, who does not use X, confirmed the post was part of a crypto con.

Hoax traced to impersonator seeking cryptocurrency

The impostor’s tribute – “Heartbroken to share that our beloved Jonathan, the world’s oldest living land animal, has passed away…” – circulated widely before authorities and local officials stepped in to debunk it. Hollins told the Guardian that Jonathan was “very much alive” and added: “I believe on X the person purporting to be me is asking for crypto donations, so it’s not even an April fool joke. It’s a con.”

Governor confirms tortoise alive after late-night search

Sir Nigel Phillips, Governor of St Helena, said he was preparing for bed when he began receiving a stream of alarmed messages and immediately went out searching for Jonathan.

“Jonathan is asleep under a tree in the paddock,” he told the Guardian, assuring the public that the tortoise was unharmed. The next morning, he joked that Jonathan had “issued a press statement”: “The report of my death was an exaggeration … Mark Twain, not Oscar Wilde.”

A celebrity with a simple but long life

Jonathan, who arrived on St Helena in 1882 and lives at Plantation House, has long been a source of local pride. His image appears on the island’s 5p coin, and he shares the grounds with three other giant tortoises – Emma, David and Fredrik.

Despite age-related blindness and the loss of his sense of smell, Jonathan remains lively, with a strong appetite for fruit and vegetables and regular attempts to mate with younger tortoises on the property.

Phillips offered insight into his surprisingly modest daily routine: a diet of grass supplemented once a week with fruit, vegetables and salad “to ensure he gets essential minerals”. He noted Jonathan has “a sweet tooth” and that visits from tourists are carefully managed to avoid stress. “Perhaps the simplicity is the key to his longevity!” he suggested.

The hoax caused considerable distress among the island’s roughly 4,440 residents, many of whom are preparing emotionally for the day Jonathan eventually dies. Hollins admitted the speed of the misinformation was unsettling, saying it made him “slightly nervous considering he’s at least 194.”

Jonathan’s near two centuries of life have spanned at least eight British monarchs. He met King George VI and the future Queen Elizabeth II during their 1947 visit, and in 2024 was presented with an official Guinness World Records certificate recognising him as the world’s oldest known land animal.

While the viral rumour briefly convinced the world that Jonathan’s long life had come to an end, the tortoise himself appeared blissfully unaware, lying in the rain, just awake from an 11-hour nap and, by all accounts, more irritated by the gloomy weather than by the global frenzy surrounding him.

Impostor later calls it a prank

In a subsequent post, the fake account wrote: “Yes, he's still alive. Did anyone send crypto? Yes, @oldestanimal. He's been passionate about Jonathan for over a year. This was just an April fools prank.”