Jonathan, World's Oldest Known Land Animal, Is Alive After Fake X Obituary

Overview

• Saint Helena’s governor, Nigel Phillips, confirmed Jonathan is alive and said he saw the tortoise at Plantation House.
• A false death notice posted Wednesday by an X account posing as veterinarian Joe Hollins went viral with more than 1.7 million views.
• Hollins said he does not use X and identified the profile as a fake that misused his name.
• The impersonating account later called the post an April Fools’ prank after earlier asking followers for cryptocurrency donations.
• Jonathan is estimated to be about 193 years old and received a 2024 Guinness World Records certificate as the oldest known terrestrial animal.