420-year Age Claim For Late Tortoise Draws Controversy

BY GEORGE OKOJIE and ADEBAYO WAHEED, Ibadan

Controversy has continued to trail the longevity of the tortoise, believed to be 420 years old and known as Baba, that died on 14th September, 2026, at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oyo State.

Baba, regarded as a treasured relic of the Oyo Kingdom, reportedly died on Monday after falling ill and was later buried.

After the burial, the echoes raised by the age declaration still linger, with many demanding scientific or mythical proof of such longevity claims.

Analysts noted that though tortoises are renowned for their impressive lifespans, verifying their exact ages has been challenging. Thus, in most cases, records of tortoises’ ages have been questioned because of inconsistencies emanating over time from changes in the reported sex or species of the tortoise.

To this end, they submitted that such discrepancies suggest that some claims of extreme longevity might be due to replacements or errors in record-keeping.

Global records showed that Adwaita, an Aldabra giant tortoise who lived at the Alipore Zoo in Kolkata, was believed to have been between 150 and 255 years old when he died in 2006.

As the controversy rages, both zoologists and traditionalists have differed on the death of the 420-year-old tortoise at the palace of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade.

Dissecting the issue, a renowned academic in the Department of Zoology, University of Ibadan, Dr Adetunji Adewale, told LEADERSHIP that a 420-year-old tortoise was biologically impossible, based on confirmed scientific data, as the absolute maximum verified lifespan for giant tortoises is roughly 190 to 250 years.

Apparently reacting to the death of the tortoise in scientific reality, he said verified records show giant tortoises live up to two centuries, not four.

According to him, “Tortoises have slow metabolisms and high resistance to oxidative stress, but their cells still degrade over time.”

He said claims that animals live past 300 or 400 years rely on unverified folklore, legends, or oral traditions rather than documented birth records.

He also noted that the oldest known living land animal is Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise on the island of St. Helena, estimated at about 193 years old. Then an Aldabra giant tortoise that lived at the Alipore Zoological Gardens in India was believed to have reached about 250 years old before dying in 2006.

“If a 420-year-old tortoise actually passed away, a zoologist would immediately request tissue samples, shell-growth ring analysis (scute-counting), and historical documentation to verify the age.

“If the age were somehow proven true, it would require a complete rewriting of modern reptile physiology, cellular biology, and ageing research textbooks.”

However, a traditionalist, Ifeyemi Oludare, went philosophical when he said the ancient royal tortoise had not merely died but “Has transitioned as a revered elder, royal witness and custodian of the kingdom’s history to join the ancestors.

“In Yoruba culture, drawing from famous historical reactions to palace figures like the legendary Alagba in Ogbomoso, a traditional custodian or elder would express the passing with specific reflections and eulogies.

“You are not just a creature; you are an elder (Alagba) who lived through centuries. You witnessed the reigns of many kings (Obas) and kept the silent secrets of the land”, he said.

He argued that a creature of such age does not simply pass away; it returns to the spirit realm, saying, “The shell carried the weight of our history; now your spirit is free.”

According to him, the animal is treated as a bridge between the ancient foundation of the kingdom and the modern era, saying, “The palace community and traditional chiefs should mourn the animal with the same solemnity reserved for high-ranking human elders.

“Traditional rulers often plan to preserve the remains so that the physical symbol of longevity remains part of the heritage for future generations”.