World's oldest tortoise very much alive despite death rumors
ABC News • • world
Key Points:
- Jonathan, the world's oldest living land animal and a Seychelles giant tortoise believed to be 193 years old, is still alive on the island of St. Helena despite false reports of his death.
- The false news of Jonathan's demise spread rapidly on social media on April Fool's Day, originating from a fake X account impersonating a veterinarian who had worked with the tortoise.
- The impersonator's post, which falsely announced Jonathan's death and solicited cryptocurrency donations, was later exposed as a hoax and a scam.
- Guinness World Records recognizes Jonathan as the oldest living land animal and tortoise, having been brought to St. Helena around 1882 when he was about 50 years old.
- Jonathan continues to live on the grounds of the governor's residence on St. Helena, an island historically known as the place of Napoleon Bonaparte's exile.
