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India-Pakistan
Robert Clive's tortoise dies at age 255
2006-03-24
CALCUTTA, India -- Adwaitya the tortoise, once owned by the man whose British East India Company helped colonize India in the 18th century, has died at the age of 255. Adwaitya, or "The only one," was one of four giant Aldabra tortoises given to Robert Clive by British seamen who caught them in the Seychelles Islands, reports The Times of London. The other three died soon after they arrived in India.

In recent years, Adwaitya had numerous illnesses. "Our records show the tortoise was born in 1750, but some have claimed he was born in 1705," said the Calcutta zoo's director.

"Adwaitya, who delighted the zoo visitors for 131 years, died (Wednesday) morning. His shell will be preserved in the zoo."

Clive, who became known as the "Conqueror of India," arrived in South Asia 1743 as a clerk in the East India Company. But it was his military skill that helped him lay the foundation for eventual British rule of India. Clive died in 1774.
"It appears I am destined for something; I will live." -- Robert Clive
Posted by:Anonymoose

#11  Soup's on!
Posted by: mojo   2006-03-24 14:26  

#10  I once saw a couple of tortoises doing the, "I like to move it, move it" at the LA Zoo. Males are sure noisy.
Posted by: BigEd   2006-03-24 12:18  

#9  mom: Maybe turtles are nocturnal, frolicking around and doing all sorts of kung-fu and all. We just never see them.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2006-03-24 11:15  

#8  Adwaitya, we hardly knew ye.
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2006-03-24 10:57  

#7  I blame Bush
Posted by: Penguin   2006-03-24 10:50  

#6  AS 6196:
God did not see fit to give reptiles a burning curiosity. They are content with a good meal and sunshine when they want it. Our turtle, Leon, is quite content in a small horse trough, with clean water flowing at a gentle current, a sun lamp, and Reptomin Turtle Food. He will patiently sit for hours in the corner where the current slows, waiting for the turtle food to float into easy reach.

I think God invented turtles to give us a good laugh. Leon is good for my morale; he's got a ridiculous perpetual frown and his little legs paddle wildly when he jumps off his sunning platform into the water.

I'm going off topic for a minute to remind everybody that, if you see somebody selling turtles smaller than four inches long, they don't know diddly about turtles and they're breaking the law. Don't buy a cute little turtle who's undersized for any reason, and don't buy any reptile unless you're ready for a long term investment, including making room for it as it grows. Leon will grow to the size of a dinner plate and can live for 30 years.

Some morons have let their oversized pythons loose in the southern US, where they pose a threat to livestock, small children, and the endangered species in the Everglades.
Posted by: mom   2006-03-24 10:31  

#5  Another one bites the dust.
Posted by: Churchills Parrot   2006-03-24 10:16  

#4  So what the hell does a tortoise DO for 255 years? It's not like he can travel the world or something.
Posted by: Angineth Slalet6196   2006-03-24 07:16  

#3  His life went by so fast.
Posted by: Mike   2006-03-24 06:49  

#2  Its a sign of the New Covenant. God says: take out Iran.
Posted by: Listen to Dogs   2006-03-24 03:27  

#1  kool story, rip Adwaitya
Posted by: RD   2006-03-24 02:49  

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