Johny boy, world's oldest known tortoise still very much alive despite death rumour   |08 April 2026

Johny boy is still very much alive at 193 years old (Photo: Online Source)

The world’s oldest known living land animal – a 193-year-old Seychelles giant tortoise named Jonathan –  remains alive and well on the remote South Atlantic Island of Saint Helena, officials has confirmed, after a hoax claiming his death spread rapidly across social media.

Reports of the tortoise’s demise first circulated on April 1, with a fake social media account purporting to belong to his long-time veterinarian, Joe Hollins, announcing that Jonathan had died at an estimated age of 193. The post, which attracted nearly two million views and prompted an outpouring of condolences, also solicited cryptocurrency donations, leading authorities to describe it as part of an alleged scam.

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