Charles Darwin's tortoise celebrates 175th birthday

Survival of slowest - Darwin's tortoise fit and well at 175

A GIANT Galapagos tortoise born when Queen Victoria was still a teenager is about to celebrate her 175th birthday under a cloud of genteel controversy over her bona fides.

Harriet, who was mistaken for a male for at least the first 124 years of her life, is thought by her Australian handlers to have been plucked from obscurity in 1835 by none other than Charles Darwin.

That would make her a key player in the evolution of Darwin’s The Origin of Species, as well as the oldest creature currently walking the planet.

More on Harriet the Tortoise.

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