World's oldest tortoise is NOT dead: 193-year-old reptile's vet rages at April Fools' hoax which tricked BBC

Dan McDonald
Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:25 +0000

A nearly 200-year-old tortoise rumoured to be dead is still, in fact, alive.

A social media post from an account claiming to be vet Joe Hollins said he was "heartbroken to share" the death of Jonathan, the world’s oldest-known tortoise at the estimated age of 193.

The story was reported on by a number of media outlets, including the BBC - which has since fessed up to being fooled.

The hoax has now been revealed as an April Fool's joke, with Mr Hollins himself confirming to USA Today that the ancient reptile is still "very much alive" on the island of St Helena.

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He added: "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."

A spokesman for Friends of the British Overseas Territories said they had received confirmation from the island's Governor, Nigel Phillips, that Jonathan was "alive and well".

They added: "This post is false and the real Joe Hollins does not have an X account."

The fake social media post announcing the death read: "Heartbroken to share that our beloved Jonathan, the world's oldest living land animal, has passed away today peacefully on St Helena.

"This gentle giant outlived empires, wars, and generations of humans.

"As his vet for many years, it was an honour to care for him - hand-feeding bananas, watching him bask in the sun, and marvelling 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."

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Jonathan has survived the reigns of at least eight British royals, meeting both King George VI and future Queen Elizabeth II when the pair visited St Helena in 1947.

In 2024, the shelled icon was presented with a Guinness World Record certificate confirming he was the world's oldest land animal.

Although his species of giant tortoise can live for up to 250 years, the island community of St Helena has a detailed plan in place when he passes away for real.

The official protocol - dubbed Operation Go Slow - will see a national day of mourning and a formal obituary for Jonathan.

His enormous shell was even said to be set for display in St Helena, open to visitors wishing to pay tribute to the historic reptile.

Jonathan is believed to have been born in the Seychelles around 1833, with the first known photograph of him taken in 1882 - by which point his size suggested he was already around 50 years old.

He is thought to have been brought to St Helena in the 1880s, where he took up residence on the grounds of the island’s Governor’s estate.

St Helena is roughly a third the size of the Isle of Wight and comparable in scale to Disney World Orlando.