A sophisticated cryptocurrency scammer orchestrated a disturbing death hoax targeting Jonathan, the world's oldest known land animal at 193 years old, fooling thousands of animal lovers and even some news publications. The elaborate deception saw an impostor account on X, masquerading as Jonathan's veterinarian Joe Hollins, announce with heartbreaking sincerity that the iconic tortoise had passed away on the remote island of St Helena.
The Swift Unraveling of a Cruel Deception
Within hours, the truth emerged as the Friends of the British Overseas Territories exposed the cruel ruse. Governor Nigel Phillips of the South Atlantic had personally checked on Jonathan and confirmed the venerable reptile was very much alive and well. The real Joe Hollins, a key member of Jonathan's care team, rushed to the tortoise's side and found him in excellent health, displaying fantastic hearing and a robust appetite.
A Sinister Crypto Scheme Revealed
This was no simple April Fool's prank but a calculated cryptocurrency scam designed to manipulate markets. The fake Hollins account included a code for the meme coin $JONATHAN in its biography, encouraging followers to invest through a provided link. The scammer's post reached an astonishing two million people, potentially allowing current coin holders to sell at artificially inflated prices if enough new investors took the bait.
The plot thickened further when it was revealed the impostor had allegedly scammed even the person operating the legitimate $JONATHAN meme coin account. That account holder claimed to have donated £2,450 worth of cryptocurrency to the fake Hollins, believing they were supporting Jonathan's actual caretaker, leaving them with a simple message for the con artist: "Shame on you."
The Vet's Disturbing Discovery
Mr Hollins told The Times he found the situation particularly disturbing because the scammer had carefully studied his manner of speaking, drawing from previous interviews and even his published book to create a convincing imitation. The veterinarian noted the hoax succeeded because it "tugged at the heartstrings" of Jonathan's global admirers, though he pointed out that careful observers might have spotted the American spelling of "honor" in the fake account's posts, unlike his own British English usage.
Jonathan's Remarkable Historical Journey
Jonathan, whose exact age remains uncertain but is estimated at 193 years based on photographic evidence from 1882 showing him fully grown upon arrival at St Helena, has witnessed extraordinary historical changes. When he was born, Queen Victoria had not yet ascended the British throne, Charles Darwin had not visited the Galapagos Islands, Charles Dickens was unknown, and Germany existed as a collection of 39 separate states.
Brought to St Helena from the Seychelles in the 1880s, Jonathan resides on the grounds of Plantation House, the official residence of the island's Governor. The tiny British overseas territory measures just 47 square miles, approximately one-third the size of the Isle of Wight and comparable to Disney World Orlando, with its nearest landmass being Ascension Island 807 miles to the northwest.
A Life of Royal Encounters and Recognition
Jonathan's extraordinary longevity has afforded him numerous notable encounters, including welcoming the future Queen Elizabeth II, King George VI, and the Queen Mother to St Helena in 1947. He has met an array of distinguished figures, from the late Duke of Edinburgh to House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who presented him with a Guinness World Record certificate recognizing him as the world's oldest known land animal.
Following the 2005 death of Harriet, a 175-year-old Galapagos tortoise, Jonathan officially assumed the title of world's oldest living land animal. In 1957, Prince Philip fed the then-125-year-old tortoise during a royal visit, and more recently in 2024, the current Duke of Edinburgh crouched to meet Jonathan as the tortoise stretched his neck to inspect the visiting royal.
Health Interventions for an Ancient Icon
Concerns about Jonathan's health emerged around 2015 when he reached approximately 184 years old, prompting his care team to implement significant interventions. He received his first-ever bath, with centuries of accumulated grime painstakingly scrubbed from his shell using a loofah, soft brush, and surgical soap while he calmly chewed grass. Simultaneously, veterinarians placed him on a special high-calorie diet to address fears about his declining condition.
Despite the recent death hoax that briefly shook his global fanbase, Jonathan continues his remarkable existence, having survived yet another night on this mortal coil and living to munch another leaf on his sun-soaked island home.
