Hoax Death Notice for Jonathan, Oldest Known Land Animal, Exposed

Overview

• A fake X account posing as veterinarian Joe Hollins claimed on Wednesday that Jonathan had died, and the post spread widely.
• The real Joe Hollins, who does not use X, said Jonathan was alive and warned that the post also asked for cryptocurrency donations.
• Following Wednesday's viral claim, Saint Helena's governor, Nigel Phillips, visited the enclosure and found the tortoise alive, asleep under a tree.
• The Guardian shared fresh proof-of-life on Thursday and the BBC and other outlets corrected earlier stories that had repeated the false post.
• Jonathan holds Guinness World Records as the oldest living land animal, has lived on Saint Helena since 1882, and the island has a formal 'Operation Go Slow' plan for honors when he truly dies.