Jonathan is alive.screenshot x
April 2, 2026, 3:43 p.mApril 2, 2026, 4:05 p.m
The good news: Jonathan, the world’s oldest turtle, is alive.
The less good news: Jonathan was probably the victim of a crypto scam.
Yesterday, April 1, news broke that the turtle died on the island of St. Helena at an estimated age of 193. This was published by an account on X posing as Joe Hollins. Hollins is a veterinarian who takes care of Jonathan.
“It’s not an April Fool’s joke, it’s a scam.”
Joe Hollins
Numerous media outlets such as the BBC and the Daily Mail picked up the X-Post in their reporting and reported on Jonathan’s alleged death. But Hollins found out about the hoax and told her “USA Today” with: “Jonathan the turtle is lively.”
The person who posed as Hollins on X apparently linked his crypto account in a comment under the post. Hollins therefore warned that there were criminals behind the fake account who wanted to collect donations under his name. “So it’s not an April Fool’s joke, it’s a scam,” said Hollins.
Research by the British “Guardian” revealed that the X account was created in Brazil. However, who exactly is behind it is not known.
The Seychelles giant tortoise Jonathan is considered one of the oldest animals in the world. In 2024, he was awarded a certificate from the Guinness Book of Records, which officially recognizes Jonathan as the oldest known land animal in the world. Although Jonathan’s exact age is not documented, a photograph from 1882 shows him already fully grown when he arrived on the island. Experts estimate that he was around 50 years old at the time.
Jonathan has lived through the reigns of at least eight British monarchs. He has both King George VI. and the future Queen Elizabeth II during their visit to the island of St. Helena in 1947. (hkl)