- False reports claimed Jonathan, the world's oldest land animal, had died at 194 years old
- The misinformation originated from a fake X account impersonating Jonathan's veterinarian
- The fraudulent post described Jonathan's peaceful passing and praised his long life
In a surprising turn of events, false reports about the death of Jonathan, the world's oldest known land animal, spread widely online, causing confusion among people. At 194 years old, Jonathan witnessed many significant moments in history and was even alive when Queen Victoria ascended the throne, reported The Guardian.
In recent days, there were reports of his passing away. These reports were based on a post shared on X by a fake account claiming to be Jonathan's veterinarian.
Misinformation Spread By Fake Post
The post, attributed to "Joe Hollins," stated that it was deeply saddening to announce that Jonathan, the world's oldest tortoise, had passed away peacefully in St. Helena. It also mentioned that it had been an honour to care for him over the years, including hand-feeding him bananas, watching him relax in the sun, and experiencing his calm demeanour. The message further stated that Jonathan left an example of patience and longevity that inspired millions, and he will be deeply missed.
Truth Revealed
However, a report by The Guardian revealed that the account spreading the information was operating from Brazil. The real veterinarian clarified that Jonathan the tortoise is alive.
The veterinarian explained that the person using his name was soliciting cryptocurrency donations on X, and that it was not a joke but a scam.
Jonathan is a Seychelles giant tortoise and is believed to be the world's oldest known terrestrial animal. He has lived in the Governor's Residence complex on St. Helena since 1882, where he was brought to the South Atlantic island as a gift.
This incident shows how quickly misinformation spread on social media and how even major news organizations can be affected by it.
