Last Updated: Thursday, 23 March 2006, 15:50 GMT

E-mail this to a friend Printable version

'Clive of India's' tortoise dies

Adwaita's shell will be carbon-dated to prove his age
A tortoise that once belonged to British colonial general Clive of India in the 18th Century has died in a zoo in Calcutta.
Adwaita, "the only one" in Bengali, was found dead by keepers in Alipore Zoo on Wednesday. His shell cracked some months ago and a wound had developed.

West Bengal officials said records showed Adwaita was at least 150 years old but other evidence pointed to 250.

The shell of Adwaita, an Aldabra tortoise, will now be carbon-dated.

Forestry minister in the West Bengal government, Jogesh Barman said: "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."


reference