A huge tortoise-shaped cake and a handful of hibiscus flowers marked the 175th birthday yesterday of Harriet, a giant tortoise reputedly collected from the Galapagos Islands by Charles Darwin himself.
Acclaimed by Guinness World Records as the world's oldest living animal, Harriet celebrated in style in front of visitors at the Australia Zoo in Queensland, owned by 'Crocodile Hunter' Steve Irwin.
'We gave her hibiscus flowers because that's her favourite food,' said the zoo's Laura Campbell. 'She's in fabulous health and there's no reason to think she can't live to 200.'
Legend has it that Harriet was one of three young tortoises collected from the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador, by Darwin in 1835, when she was five.
The animals - named Tom, Dick and Harry - were studied by the evolutionist and taken to Britain on board his ship, HMS Beagle.
But five years of cold English winters and grey skies reduced them to a state of almost permanent hibernation.