Fake News About Jonathan the Turtle's Death Turns Out to Be a Scam

A user impersonating a veterinarian on the social media platform X, previously known as Twitter, published a misleading report about the death of Jonathan, the oldest tortoise in the world. This news, which claimed that the 194-year-old Jonathan had 'passed away peacefully' on the island of Saint Helena in Britain, was soon proven to be false.

The British publication The Guardian reported that a fraudulent account posing as reptile veterinarian Joe Hollins spread rumors regarding Jonathan's demise. In the post, the fake veterinarian expressed gratitude for the opportunity to care for the tortoise and reminisced about shared moments with Jonathan.

The post quickly gained traction, amassing over 2 million views and being picked up by users as well as prominent media outlets such as BBC, Daily Mail, and USA Today. However, it later emerged that the account was created in Brazil, and the real veterinarian Joe Hollins is not even registered on the social media platform X.

The actual Joe Hollins commented on the situation, confirming that Jonathan is alive and suggesting that the scammer was attempting to solicit cryptocurrency donations from people, as they indeed requested crypto contributions from visitors.

Furthermore, the governor of Saint Helena, Nigel Phillips, also confirmed that Jonathan is alive. When the rumor of the tortoise's 'death' began to circulate, the official was inundated with messages and inquiries. Consequently, he decided to personally visit Jonathan to ensure the tortoise was indeed alive.

Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, is recognized as the oldest known terrestrial animal in the world. He has been residing at the governor's residence on Saint Helena since 1882 when he was brought as a gift. This tortoise has lived through numerous historical events, including the coronation of Queen Victoria, the publication of the first works of Oscar Wilde and Mark Twain, as well as the births of these notable authors.

Currently, Jonathan is in good spirits, although he has gone blind due to cataracts and lacks a sense of smell. Nevertheless, he maintains a robust appetite, particularly for bananas. The tortoise even attempts to mate with two younger tortoises, indicating his activity level and good health.

This incident involving the fake news about Jonathan highlights the critical importance of verifying information, especially in the age of social media, where misinformation can spread rapidly and mislead many individuals.