https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c393xmpzjwko?at_format=link&at_bbc_team=editorial

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World's oldest known tortoise still alive, as reports of death revealed as hoax

by Anna Lamche / 5 days ago

The world's oldest known tortoise, Jonathan, is still alive, contrary to a widely circulated social media post which has been revealed as a hoax.

An account on X that had purported to belong to Joe Hollins, a vet who has previously cared for Jonathan, posted that it was "heartbroken to share" that the tortoise had died on the island of St Helena at an estimated age of 193.

Media outlets including the BBC, USA Today and Daily Mail published news reports about the post.

"Jonathan the tortoise is very much alive," Hollins has since told USA Today. "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."

"To confirm - Jonathan is very much alive", Nigel Phillips, the governor of St Helena, told the BBC via email.

The BBC has also contacted Hollins for comment.

Jonathan's exact age is unknown, but a photograph taken in 1882 shows that he was fully grown when he was first brought to the island - where he lived on the grounds of Plantation House, the official residence of the Governor of St Helena.

Experts say this suggests he was about 50 years old by that time.

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