World's oldest tortoise Jonathan alive and kicking, fake death rumour sparks outrage: ‘This is a hoax’

Reports claiming the death of Jonathan, the world’s oldest known tortoise, have been confirmed as false after a widely shared social media post caused confusion and drew media attention.

The claim originated from an account on X impersonating veterinarian Joe Hollins, who has previously cared for Jonathan. The post alleged that the tortoise had died on the island of St Helena, triggering widespread circulation online.

The message, written in an emotional tone, described Jonathan’s supposed passing and reflected on years of care, including feeding and observing the animal. It quickly gained traction online and led to widespread concern.

It was later found that the account behind the post originated outside St Helena, raising doubts about its authenticity. In a Facebook post, Hollins shared a screenshot of the message and warned that it was a hoax, stating that the individual behind it was attempting to seek cryptocurrency donations and urging people not to fall for it.

Joe Hollins later clarified to USA Today, as cited by the BBC, that the account was fake and the claim was incorrect. “Jonathan the tortoise is very much alive,” he said, adding, “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.”

Nigel Phillips, Governor of St Helena, also dismissed the reports, confirming in an X post, that Jonathan is “alive ”.


Jonathan’s exact age remains uncertain, but historical evidence suggests he has lived for close to two centuries. A photograph from 1882 shows him already fully grown when he arrived on St Helena, indicating he was well established at the time. He has since lived on the grounds of Plantation House, the official residence of the island’s governor.

Jonathan also holds two Guinness World Records, recognised as the oldest living land animal and the oldest chelonian, a group that includes turtles, terrapins and tortoises. He has been assigned an unofficial birthdate of December 4, 1832, by the current Governor of St Helena, according to reports.

Weighing around 182 kilograms, Speaking to The Washington Post in May 2024, Hollins said, “It astounds me to think there is no living creature on the surface of this planet that was in existence before him.”

Over the years, Jonathan has lost his sense of smell and vision, but continues to move around using his sense of hearing.