KOLKATA, India (Reuters) - 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.
Sofali will weep The One and Only.
"The Only One is dead, Sofal lives forever"
Gian