On April 1, 2026, an X user claiming to be a veterinarian for Jonathan, a tortoise on St. Helena island, said the animal — estimated to be almost 194 years old — had died. In his post, the purported vet, using the handle @JoeHollinsVet, wrote:
Heartbroken to share that our beloved Jonathan, the world's oldest living land animal, has passed away today peacefully on St. Helena. At an estimated 193+ years old, this gentle giant outlived empires, wars, and generations of humans.
As his vet for many years, it was an honor to care for him—hand-feeding bananas, watching him bask in the sun, and marveling at his quiet wisdom.
He leaves behind a legacy of resilience and longevity that inspired millions. Rest easy, old friend. You'll be missed more than words can say.
Snopes readers emailed us asking for confirmation the ancient tortoise had actually died. Many sources, including the BBC, repeated the claim that Jonathan was dead based on the above post. The BBC reported:
The world's oldest known tortoise, Jonathan, has died at an estimated age of 193, the vet who cared for him has said. […] Jonathan lived through the reigns of eight British monarchs and met both George VI and the future Elizabeth II during their visit to the island in 1947.
However, as of this writing, the reports that Jonathan the tortoise is dead are false. Jonathan is alive and well, despite the internet rumors. The X account making the claim does not belong to the actual vet on St. Helena, and the island government denied that Jonathan had died, posting a picture of the ancient tortoise as proof of life.
We looked at the X account in question and found it stated its location was United States, and connected to X via a Brazilian app store.
On April 1, the account posted:
1.7M views is crazy on a post about Jonathan dying today. Yes, he's still alive. Did anyone send crypto? Yes, @oldestanimal. He's been passionate about Jonathan for over a year. This was just an April fools prank.
On April 2 the account responded to the BBC article that echoed its false claim with a post reading "Got you!" That post was later removed.
The account also shared what appeared to be a cryptocurrency account's wallet address, which is where one can send or receive cryptocurrency on a blockchain.
On April 2, the government of St. Helena debunked the claim with a photograph of Jonathan alongside an iPad with the BBC home page for the day. Jonathan is looking into the camera while resting atop mud and leaves. His shell appears shiny from moisture. The government's official website stated:
The St Helena Government (SHG) would like to reassure the community that Jonathan, St Helena's beloved giant tortoise and the world's oldest living land animal, is very much alive and well.
Yesterday, stories circulated on social media falsely claiming that Jonathan had passed away. These claims are entirely untrue and appear to be part of an online hoax. Jonathan was seen this morning at his home in the grounds of Plantation House, where he continues to enjoy his routine with the care and attention of the Plantation House staff and the St Helena Veterinary Service.
We understand the concern these misleading stories have caused. Jonathan is deeply cherished by the St Helenian community and has become an international icon. The level of global affection for him is clear from the many messages received from people reaching out for confirmation.
The message urged people to rely on official government media channels for updates on Jonathan's health.
The BBC then issued the following correction:
An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Jonathan had died, after the BBC along with other media outlets fell for a fake social media account. It has been updated to explain the circumstances.
A man named Joe Hollins is indeed Jonathan's vet, but he does not have an account on X, according to The Guardian. Hollins told The Guardian: "Jonathan the tortoise is very much alive. I believe on X the person purporting to be me is asking for crypto donations, so it's not even an April fool joke. It's a con."
St. Helena Gov. Nigel Phillips' authentic X account posted: "Jonathan remains a cherished resident of St Helena and a symbol of our island's rich heritage. A dedicated team continues to monitor Jonathan's health and wellbeing closely."
Phillips joked to The Guardian that Jonathan the tortoise also had issued a statement: "The report of my death was an exaggeration … Mark Twain, not Oscar Wilde. Jonathan would nonetheless have had the chance to enjoy both their works in the original first editions."
Snopes has covered Jonathan extensively, verifying that he is the oldest known land animal, and confirming the authenticity of photos featuring him.