Fact Check: This is not Jonathan the tortoise, world’s oldest living animal

A picture of a Galapagos tortoise is doing the rounds on social media with the false claim that it is Jonathan the tortoise – the oldest living animal on the planet today.

He has lived through two world wars, the Russian Revolution, seven monarchs on the British throne and 39 United States presidents. He has seen them all in his lifetime. He is Jonathan the tortoise the oldest living animal on the planet today. Now, multiple Facebook users have posted the picture of a large tortoise, claiming that this is Jonathan, which will turn 190 next year. “Born in 1832, Jonathan the Turtle is expected to turn 190 in 2022. This makes him the oldest known land animal alive,” reads the text superimposed on the picture.