Jonathan the Tortoise is Alive and Well

On Wednesday, initial reports indicated the passing of Jonathan, a 193-year-old Seychelles giant tortoise and believed to be the oldest living land animal, at his home on the island of Saint Helena. These reports originated from an X account claiming to belong to his owner, Joe Hollins.

Widespread Misinformation and Corrections

The news of Jonathan’s alleged death quickly spread, receiving coverage from major news outlets including the BBC, USA Today, and the Daily Mail. However, the claim proved to be a hoax, prompting a wave of corrections from numerous publications. The BBC issued a notice stating that an earlier version of their story incorrectly reported Jonathan’s death after falling for a fake social media account.

The Hoax and Potential Scam

The real Joe Hollins confirmed the reports were false, emphatically stating, “IT IS NOT TRUE” in a Facebook post. He does not use X. The incident appears to be more than a simple prank, with concerns raised about a potential scam. A veterinarian on St Helena Island warned that the hoaxer was soliciting cryptocurrency donations, calling it “a con.”

Fake Account Tactics

The fraudulent X account attempted to elicit sympathy and donations by posting an emotional tribute. It claimed to be Jonathan’s vet and described the “honor” of caring for him. The post garnered two million views before being widely debunked. The account is believed to be based in Brazil.

X's Ongoing Disinformation Problem

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges X faces with the spread of disinformation. Elon Musk, the owner of X, has previously been accused of spreading fabricated news, contributing to the platform’s issues with misinformation. Crypto and phishing scams are also prevalent on the site, with users reportedly losing significant amounts of money.

Jonathan Confirmed Alive

Fortunately, Jonathan is still alive. St Helena governor Nigel Phillips confirmed that the tortoise was “very much alive,” stating he was “asleep under a tree in the paddock.” Phillips shared a photo of Jonathan enjoying leaves, with a BBC homepage visible in the background as proof of life.

A Humorous Response

Phillips playfully referenced a similar historical incident, quoting Mark Twain: “The report of my death was an exaggeration…” He added that Jonathan would have appreciated both Twain and Oscar Wilde’s works.