Slow going! Tortoise dies after 250 years

[OMEN]

This photo of Aldabra was taken at the Alipore Zoological Garden in Kolkata in April, 2005.
KOLKATA, India - A giant aldabra tortoise thought to be around 250 years old has died in the Kolkata zoo of liver failure, Indian authorities said on Thursday.

The tortoise had been the pet of Robert Clive, the famous British military officer in colonial India around the middle of the 18th century, a local minister in West Bengal state said.

Local authorities say the tortoise, named “Addwaitya” meaning the “The One and Only” in Bengali, was the oldest tortoise in the world but they have not presented scientific proof to back up their claim.
“Historical records show he was a pet of British general Robert Clive of the East India Company and had spent several years in his sprawling estate before he was brought to the zoo about 130 years ago,” West Bengal Forest Minister Jogesh Barman said.

“We have documents to prove that he was more than 150 years old, but we have pieced together other evidence like statements from authentic sources and it seems that he is more than 250 years old,” he said.

'Sad day'
The minister said details about Addwaitya’s early life showed that British sailors had brought him from the Seychelles islands and presented him to Clive, who was rising fast in the East India Company’s military hierarchy.

On Thursday, the tortoise’s enclosure wore a deserted look.

“This is a sad day for us. We will miss him very much,” a zoo keeper said.

Wild Aldabra tortoises are found in the Aldabra island in the Indian Ocean Seychelles islands. They average about 265 pounds (120 kg). It is believed that tortoises are the longest lived of all animals, with life spans often surpassing 100 years.

Reuters

[Kellie]

wow, 250 years old ... thats just amazing


R.I.P

[Mr. 2.0]

MAn that's a long time he's seen lots of things

MAy he RIP Peacefully

[Metalring]

I wish that I could live to be 250.R.I.P. tortoise.

[shakie]

damn. Didnt know they live that long. Gotta remember that for my turtle. Damn my pet turtles gunna outlive me.

[Lazah]

What a magnificent creature he was..One must wonder what it was like for him to live thru it all...

Rest in peace.

[scorpionf]

R.I.P Aldabra.... He is so cute!!

250 years though, imagine what he has seen in his life span and what he would have been able to tell us if tortoise's could actually speak!!

[Kaz]

Don't you mean if he wasn't dead?