Between 1899 and 1902, the Second Boer War raged between the Orange Free State and their Transvaal Republic allies and the mightiest power on Earth - Britain.
The British - along with soldiers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand - won the war after losing around 20,000 men.
A photo taken in 1900 on the British colony of St Helena shows a British soldiers with a captured Boer PoW - and a tortoise. The tortoise was around 70 years old the year the photo was taken - and it's still alive today. It is the oldest animal living on St Helena, which is still a British colony.
Jonathan the 176-year-old tortoise revealed as world's oldest animal in Boer War photo
By Daily Mail Reporter
03rd December 2008
Daily Mail
The world's oldest living animal has been discovered after a photograph of it emerged that was taken during the Boer War.
Jonathan the tortoise is believed to be 176-years-old and was about 70 at the time the black and white picture was taken.
He was captured munching on grass in about 1900 with a captured Boer War prisoner stood in the background looking at him.
Jonathon the giant tortoise is fit and healthy despite being 176 years old
It was taken on the British colony of St Helena where Jonathan still lives today and is treated like a celebrity due to his legendary status.
During his lifetime, Jonathan has seen the coronation of eight British monarchs from George IV to Elizabeth II and a staggering 50 prime ministers.
Today he lives with fellow land tortoises David, Speedy, Emma, Fredricka and Myrtle in a plantation on the South Atlantic island.
Despite his old age, locals say he still has the energy to regularly mate with the three younger females.
A spokesman for the island's tourist board said Jonathan is owned by the St Helena government and lives in the specially built plantation on the governor's land.
1900: This rare picture of a Boer war prisoner alongside a British soldier snapped on the remote island of St Helenamore than a century ago, has revealed the tortoise's great age
He said: 'Jonathan is the sole survivor of three tortoises that arrived on St Helena Island in 1882.
'He was already mature when he arrived and was at least 50-years-old.
'Therefore his minimum age is 176-years-old. He is the oldest inhabitant on St Helena and is claimed to be the oldest living tortoise in the world.
'He lives in the grounds of Plantation House which is the governor's residence with five other tortoises who are much younger than him.
'Apparently he remained nameless for the most part of his residence in St Helena until he was named by Governor Sir Spencer Davis in the 1930s.
'He feeds on the grass of the main paddock. Jonathan is still very active despite his age and adores attention, he is a real poser.
'He seems to be sightless in one eye, but does not let that slow him down.'
It is thought Jonathan, from the species Testudinipae cytodira, was brought to St Helena from the Seychelles as a mature adult in 1882.
His remarkable existance has come to light after the photograph was discovered as part of a collection of Boer War images taken by L.A. Innes who had a studio in the capital Jamestown.
The pictures were recently sold at auction for 4,000 pounds by Andrew Smith and Son auctioneers near Winchester, Hampshire.
Further investigation by the auctioneers revealed the tortoise in the picture was Jonathan who was still alive.
St Helena has a population of more than 4,200. Its greatest claim to fame came when Napoleon was exiled there by the British in 1815. He was held prisoner there until his death in 1821 and is buried there.
dailymail.co.uk
The British - along with soldiers from Canada, Australia and New Zealand - won the war after losing around 20,000 men.
A photo taken in 1900 on the British colony of St Helena shows a British soldiers with a captured Boer PoW - and a tortoise. The tortoise was around 70 years old the year the photo was taken - and it's still alive today. It is the oldest animal living on St Helena, which is still a British colony.
Jonathan the 176-year-old tortoise revealed as world's oldest animal in Boer War photo
By Daily Mail Reporter
03rd December 2008
Daily Mail
The world's oldest living animal has been discovered after a photograph of it emerged that was taken during the Boer War.
Jonathan the tortoise is believed to be 176-years-old and was about 70 at the time the black and white picture was taken.
He was captured munching on grass in about 1900 with a captured Boer War prisoner stood in the background looking at him.
Jonathon the giant tortoise is fit and healthy despite being 176 years old
It was taken on the British colony of St Helena where Jonathan still lives today and is treated like a celebrity due to his legendary status.
During his lifetime, Jonathan has seen the coronation of eight British monarchs from George IV to Elizabeth II and a staggering 50 prime ministers.
Today he lives with fellow land tortoises David, Speedy, Emma, Fredricka and Myrtle in a plantation on the South Atlantic island.
Despite his old age, locals say he still has the energy to regularly mate with the three younger females.
A spokesman for the island's tourist board said Jonathan is owned by the St Helena government and lives in the specially built plantation on the governor's land.
1900: This rare picture of a Boer war prisoner alongside a British soldier snapped on the remote island of St Helenamore than a century ago, has revealed the tortoise's great age
He said: 'Jonathan is the sole survivor of three tortoises that arrived on St Helena Island in 1882.
'He was already mature when he arrived and was at least 50-years-old.
'Therefore his minimum age is 176-years-old. He is the oldest inhabitant on St Helena and is claimed to be the oldest living tortoise in the world.
'He lives in the grounds of Plantation House which is the governor's residence with five other tortoises who are much younger than him.
'Apparently he remained nameless for the most part of his residence in St Helena until he was named by Governor Sir Spencer Davis in the 1930s.
'He feeds on the grass of the main paddock. Jonathan is still very active despite his age and adores attention, he is a real poser.
'He seems to be sightless in one eye, but does not let that slow him down.'
It is thought Jonathan, from the species Testudinipae cytodira, was brought to St Helena from the Seychelles as a mature adult in 1882.
His remarkable existance has come to light after the photograph was discovered as part of a collection of Boer War images taken by L.A. Innes who had a studio in the capital Jamestown.
The pictures were recently sold at auction for 4,000 pounds by Andrew Smith and Son auctioneers near Winchester, Hampshire.
Further investigation by the auctioneers revealed the tortoise in the picture was Jonathan who was still alive.
St Helena has a population of more than 4,200. Its greatest claim to fame came when Napoleon was exiled there by the British in 1815. He was held prisoner there until his death in 1821 and is buried there.
dailymail.co.uk
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