US EditionJonathan the tortoise, world's oldest known land animal, dies aged 193
- On Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the world's oldest known land animal, a giant tortoise named Jonathan, died on the remote South Atlantic island of St. Helena, his longtime veterinarian Joe Hollins confirmed.
- Thought to have hatched around 1832, Jonathan lived for an estimated 193 years, outliving eight British monarchs while residing at Plantation House, the official residence of the Governor of St. Helena.
- Guinness World Records recognized Jonathan as the oldest chelonian, a category encompassing all turtles and tortoises; at approximately 400 pounds, the reptile required hand-feeding by Hollins.
- "Heartbroken to share that our beloved Jonathan, the world's oldest living land animal, has passed away today peacefully on St. Helena," Hollins wrote on social media, noting the tortoise inspired millions.
- During his long life, Jonathan met Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh during their 1947 visit, as well as House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, cementing his historical significance.
20 Articles
20 Articles
Has the world's oldest tortoise, Jonathan, died? 193-year-old's vet calls out ‘hoax’, claims hoaxer is asking for crypto
Joe Hollins, a vet who has been caring for Jonathan for a long-time, shared the screengrab of the X post claiming that Jonathan, the tortoise, was dead and said it was a hoax.
Is Jonathan the Tortoise Dead? Fact Check Debunks the Death Hoax Going Viral on Social Media | 🔎 LatestLY
Jonathan the tortoise is confirmed alive and well on Saint Helena following a viral death hoax on X (formerly Twitter). A fraudulent account impersonating his vet spread the false news to solicit cryptocurrency donations. Officials debunked the claim, confirming the 193-year-old world record holder remains in good health despite the digital scam. 🔎 Is Jonathan the Tortoise Dead? Fact Check Debunks the Death Hoax Going Viral on Social Media.
Death hoax about Jonathan, the world’s oldest tortoise, fools BBC
A hoax falsely claiming that Jonathan, the world’s oldest living tortoise, had died spread on X, with BBC News and other outlets briefly reporting the claim as fact before it was debunked. The fake post, written as if it came from veterinarian Joe Hollins, claimed Jonathan had died peacefully on St. Helena at the age of 193. It described the tortoise as a “gentle giant” and included personal details of caring for Jonathan that were meant to make…
This male belonging to the Seychelles giant turtle species has been extinct on the island of St. Helena where he lived since 1882. The news has been announced by Joe Hollins, his veterinarian for more than 15 years.
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