Reports that the world’s oldest tortoise had died turned out to be false after an online scam tricked global media into spreading the claim.
Jonathan, believed to be around 193 years old, was mistakenly reported dead after a fake social media account impersonating his vet published an emotional tribute announcing his passing.
The post, which claimed to be from vet Joe Hollins, described Jonathan as having “passed away peacefully” on the island of Saint Helena and quickly gained widespread attention, being viewed by millions and picked up by major news outlets.
However, the claim was later debunked when it emerged the account was fake and had been set up to solicit cryptocurrency donations. The real Joe Hollins confirmed that Jonathan is still alive, warning that the impersonator was attempting to scam people.
“Jonathan the tortoise is very much alive,” he said, adding that he does not use the platform where the message was posted. A spokesperson for a local organisation on Saint Helena also confirmed that the historic tortoise is “alive and well”.
Jonathan’s exact age is not known, but experts estimate he was born in the early 1830s. He was already fully grown when he arrived on Saint Helena in 1882, suggesting he was around 50 years old at the time.
Over his lifetime, he has lived through major global events, including both world wars, and has witnessed significant technological advances from the invention of the light bulb to the rise of modern computing.
He has also been visited by members of the British royal family, including Queen Elizabeth II when she was still a princess. Despite his age, Jonathan continues to live at Plantation House on Saint Helena. Though he is blind and has lost his sense of smell, he remains active and maintains a strong appetite.
