At 176, Jonathan the tortoise is knocking on a bit. In fact, he's said to be one of the world's oldest living animals.

A photograph from about 1900 has been found which apparently backs up this claim.

It shows Jonathan, aged around 70, munching on grass with a Boer War prisoner beside him.

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.

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.

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.