"An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Jonathan had died, after the BBC along with other media outlets fell for a fake social media account."
"IT IS NOT TRUE, Hollins wrote in an impassioned Facebook post, since he doesn't actually use X."
"As his vet for many years, it was an honor to care for him - hand-feeding bananas, watching him bask in the sun and marveling at his quiet wisdom."
"The hoaxer is asking for crypto donations. It's a con, he wrote. Please forward guys because this has spread."
Jonathan, a 193-year-old Seychelles giant tortoise, was falsely reported dead, causing widespread media coverage and corrections. The claim originated from a fake social media account impersonating his owner, Joe Hollins. Hollins clarified the news was a hoax and warned that the account was soliciting cryptocurrency donations. The misinformation spread rapidly, even reaching researchers in the US. The fake account attempted to evoke emotions to gain sympathy and donations, but it was ultimately a scam.
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