False Death Reports Sparked by Fake Vet Account
At 194 years old, Jonathan the giant tortoise has witnessed history since Queen Victoria’s reign began. Despite his remarkable longevity, he recently became the subject of a deceptive cryptocurrency scam.
Several prominent news organizations, including the BBC, Daily Mail, and USA Today, erroneously reported Jonathan’s death following a post on X (formerly Twitter) from an account impersonating his veterinarian.
The fraudulent post, attributed to "Joe Hollins," stated:
"Heartbroken to share that our beloved Jonathan, the world’s oldest living land animal, has passed away today peacefully on Saint Helena. As his vet for many years, it was an honour to care for him – hand-feeding bananas, watching him bask in the sun and marvelling at his quiet wisdom. He leaves behind a legacy of resilience and longevity that inspired millions. Rest easy, old friend. You’ll be missed more than words can say."
Despite the post garnering 2 million views and being accepted as fact by the UK’s national broadcaster, investigative checks by revealed the account was actually based in Brazil. The genuine veterinarian, who does not use X, clarified:
"Jonathan the tortoise is very much alive. 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."
The impostor was indeed soliciting cryptocurrency donations at the time of the report.
Jonathan’s History and Current Status
Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise and holds the title of the world’s oldest known land animal. He has resided on the grounds of the governor’s mansion on Saint Helena since 1882, when he was gifted to the South Atlantic island.
Nigel Phillips, the governor of Saint Helena, was preparing for bed on Wednesday night when he was flooded with concerned messages about Jonathan’s wellbeing. He immediately went outside to check on the tortoise and confirmed:
"Jonathan is asleep under a tree in the paddock,"
adding that the tortoise was "very much alive."
On Thursday morning, Phillips humorously remarked that Jonathan had issued a statement himself:
"The report of my death was an exaggeration … Mark Twain, not Oscar Wilde. Jonathan would nonetheless have had the chance enjoy both their works in the original first editions."
Despite suffering from blindness due to cataracts and having lost his sense of smell, Jonathan remains in good health with a strong appetite for bananas and a vigorous libido. He attempts to mate with two younger tortoises that also live on the governor’s property.
Jonathan is a local celebrity and even appears on the reverse side of Saint Helena’s 5p coin.
