World's Oldest Creature Dies
Addwaita, a tortoise said to be the world’s oldest creature, has died at an age believed to be 250.
Previously, the oldest documented creature was another tortoise, Harriet, who was 176 when she died at a zoo in Australia.
Addwaita was one of four tortoises brought to India from the Seychelles as a gift for Robert Clive of the East India Company, who was known as Clive of India.
Clive, who came from Shrewsbury, was the man most responsible for establishing British colonial rule in India.
Addwaita lived in Clive’s garden for some years, before being moved to a zoo in Calcutta in 1875.
He died on 22nd March, aged – probably – 250.
Posted by colin on Monday 1st May, 2006 at 7:47am