The St Helena Government (SHG) would like to reassure the community that Jonathan, St Helena’s beloved giant tortoise and the world’s oldest living land animal, is very much alive and well.
Yesterday, stories circulated on social media falsely claiming that Jonathan had passed away. These claims are entirely untrue and appear to be part of an online hoax. Jonathan was seen this morning at his home in the grounds of Plantation House, where he continues to enjoy his routine with the care and attention of the Plantation House staff and the St Helena Veterinary Service.
We understand the concern these misleading stories have caused. Jonathan is deeply cherished by the St Helenian community and has become an international icon. The level of global affection for him is clear from the many messages received from people reaching out for confirmation.
SHG encourages the public to rely only on official SHG channels for accurate and verified information about Jonathan and other matters of public interest. We would like to thank everyone who contacted us with concern and support.
Photo: Jonathan at his home in Plantation House this morning
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