For a brief, chaotic moment in early April 2026, the world mourned the loss of Jonathan, the legendary Seychelles giant tortoise and the oldest known living land animal. Tributes poured in across social media, major news outlets ran somber obituaries, and animal lovers everywhere lamented the end of an era. But as it turns out, reports of Jonathan’s demise were, to borrow the words of Mark Twain, greatly exaggerated—and, in this case, the result of a brazen online hoax.
The confusion began on April 1, 2026, when an account on X (formerly Twitter) impersonating Joe Hollins, Jonathan’s longtime veterinarian, posted a message declaring the tortoise’s death at the grand age of 193. The post, written in American English and adorned with heartfelt words, claimed, “Heartbroken to share that our beloved Jonathan, the world’s oldest living land animal, has passed away today peacefully on St Helena.” It went on to reminisce about hand-feeding bananas to Jonathan and marveling at his “quiet wisdom,” while inviting readers to send cryptocurrency donations. The post quickly went viral, amassing over two million views, and soon made its way into the headlines of major outlets including the BBC, USA Today, and the Daily Mail (as reported by The Guardian and USA Today).
But the story was too good—or too tragic—to be true. Within hours, doubts began to surface. Robert Midgley, spokesperson for the Friends of the British Overseas Territories, publicly debunked the post, stating, “We’ve been in touch with Joe (who isn’t actually on X) and he has confirmed Jonathan is alive and well. This account is fake, please ignore.” The real Joe Hollins, who has cared for Jonathan for years, also stepped forward to set the record straight. “Jonathan the tortoise is very much alive,” Hollins told USA Today. “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.”
As the dust settled, even the governor of St Helena, Nigel Phillips, weighed in to calm the public’s nerves. Phillips, who was preparing for bed when he was inundated with anxious messages, took it upon himself to check on the celebrity reptile. “Jonathan is asleep under a tree in the paddock,” he assured The Guardian, adding that the animal was “very much alive.” The governor later joked that Jonathan had issued a press statement: “The report of my death was an exaggeration… Mark Twain, not Oscar Wilde. Jonathan would nonetheless have had the chance to enjoy both their works in the original first editions.”
Media organizations scrambled to correct their earlier reports. The BBC, for instance, issued a correction on April 2, clarifying that Jonathan was alive and well. USA Today and other outlets followed suit, updating their stories to reflect the truth and apologizing for the error. The fake account on X, meanwhile, admitted that the death claim was an April Fools’ prank and confessed to soliciting cryptocurrency donations under false pretenses. “Yes, he’s still alive. Did anyone send crypto?” the impersonator later wrote, further underscoring the scam’s dubious intent.
Jonathan’s near-miss with digital death is only the latest chapter in a life that has spanned nearly two centuries. According to Guinness World Records, Jonathan is thought to have hatched around 1832, making him at least 194 years old as of 2026. He arrived on the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena in 1882 as a gift from the Seychelles and was already fully grown at the time—experts estimate he was about 50 years old then. Since his arrival, Jonathan has lived on the grounds of Plantation House, the official residence of the governor, becoming a fixture of the island and a symbol of longevity and resilience (as detailed in Mint and USA Today).
Over the decades, Jonathan has witnessed—and, in his own way, participated in—history. He has lived through the reigns of at least eight British monarchs, from William IV to Charles III, and famously met both King George VI and the future Queen Elizabeth II during their 1947 visit to St Helena. More recently, in 2024, Jonathan was presented with a Guinness World Record certificate recognizing him as the oldest known land animal in the world, an honor celebrated by locals and international admirers alike.
Despite his advanced age, Jonathan remains a local celebrity and a source of fascination for scientists and animal lovers. He has appeared on the reverse of St Helena’s 5p coin and is the subject of ongoing research into longevity. Stephen Clark, a scientist with the nonprofit Kallel, confirmed to USA Today that Jonathan was alive and well, echoing the reassurances of his caretaker and the governor. “He still appears to be very happy and healthy,” Joe Hollins has said, though he admits that Jonathan has lost his sense of smell and sight. That hasn’t dampened the tortoise’s appetite for bananas—or his healthy libido, as he continues to attempt mating with two younger tortoises living on the governor’s property (according to The Guardian).
Jonathan’s exact birthday remains unknown, but in 2022, Governor Phillips assigned him an official birthday of December 4, giving the islanders another reason to celebrate their most famous resident. Over the years, Jonathan has become more than just a living relic; he’s a symbol of endurance in a fast-changing world, a gentle giant who has outlived empires, witnessed wars, and inspired generations.
The recent hoax, while unsettling, has only strengthened the affection and vigilance surrounding Jonathan. As Joe Hollins warned, “There is a hoax—not even an April Fool—going around in X with American spelling but using my name, saying Jonathan the Tortoise, the oldest living land animal, is dead. IT IS NOT TRUE.” He urged followers to spread the word and ignore the fake news, a plea that resonated with researchers and fans worldwide. “Even our researcher friends in the US, unraveling his DNA, have just sent condolences,” Hollins noted, highlighting just how far Jonathan’s story has traveled.
With the dust now settled and Jonathan still basking in the St Helena sun, the world can breathe a sigh of relief. The oldest known tortoise is not only alive but continues to inspire with his remarkable story—having survived not just the passage of time, but now, the perils of the digital age.