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A Seychelles giant tortoise, believed to be the world’s oldest land animal, is alive and well after claims its death turned out to be part of an alleged crypto scam.
Posts appeared on Wednesday claiming Jonathan, estimated to be 193 years old according to an official website dedicated to him, had died.
The report of his death was posted on X by the account @JoeHollinsVet, named after Joe Hollins, a veterinarian who treated Jonathan and previously described his experience.
Posing for tourists in St. Petersburg Helena. photo: AP
The message said he was “heartbroken” to announce that his “loved” creature “passed away today peacefully.”
Describing himself as Jonathan’s “vet for many years”, he said: “Rest assured, old friend. You will be missed more than words can express” and later thanked people “for the outpouring of love for Jonathan as we mourn his passing”.
However Friends of the British Overseas Territories, citing the island’s governor, Nigel Phillips, said “the real Joe Hollins does not have an X account, and Jonathan the turtle is still alive. This account is asking for crypto donations, recently changing its username”.
Mr Phillips “has confirmed Jonathan Tortoise is alive and well – he has just checked him”, he added.
In a post on Facebook, Hollins commented on a screenshot of X’s post, saying it was a “hoax” and “not even April Fools’ Day.”
He wrote that: “IT’S NOT TRUE. The hoaxer is asking for crypto donations. It’s a scam. Please keep it up guys because this is already spreading. Even our research friend in the US who revealed his DNA just expressed his condolences.”
There was a lot of negative reaction to the original
Guinness World Records summed up many people’s feelings by saying “phew.”
Jonathan, who lives on the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic, is “believed to be the world’s oldest living land animal”, the site says, while admitting “we don’t actually know his exact age”.
His home is on the grounds of Plantation House, the residence of the Governor of St Helena, an exclusive address he shares with three other giant tortoises, named Emma, David and Fredrik.
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The website says it is “generally accepted” to be one of three giant tortoises brought to the island in the 18th and 19th centuries and named in the 1930s.
St Helena was discovered by Portugal in 1502, before being claimed by the English after they arrived on the island in 1659. The island has remained in British possession ever since.
