Jonathan the giant tortoise, the world's oldest known land animal at 194 years old, has been falsely reported dead in a cryptocurrency scam that duped major news outlets including the BBC, Daily Mail and USA Today. The hoax originated from a fake X account posing as his veterinarian, Joe Hollins, which announced his death and solicited crypto donations.
The impostor's post, which received 2 million views, claimed Jonathan had died peacefully on Saint Helena. Checks by the Guardian revealed the account was based in Brazil. The real Joe Hollins, who does not use X, confirmed Jonathan is very much alive and called the post a con. The BBC later retracted its report.
Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise, has lived on the grounds of the governor's mansion on Saint Helena since 1882. Governor Nigel Phillips, alerted by anxious messages, searched the grounds and found Jonathan asleep under a tree. He joked that Jonathan had issued a press statement quoting Mark Twain: 'The report of my death was an exaggeration.'
Despite being blind from cataracts and lacking a sense of smell, Jonathan remains healthy with a strong appetite for bananas and a healthy libido. His daily routine involves grazing on grass, with weekly treats of fruit and vegetables. The governor attributes his longevity to simplicity.
The hoax has rocked the small island community of about 4,440 people, where Jonathan is a local celebrity featured on the reverse of the 5p coin. In celebration of his resurrection, Jonathan was given a double helping of bananas, which he enthusiastically ate from his keeper's hand.
