Among humans, the record holder for longevity is Jeanne Calment.
A French woman born in 1875 and who died in 1997 lived to be 122 years old. This record is documented.
And who is the record holder among animals?
There are several representatives of the fauna that claim this title.
The problem is that it is impossible to establish the exact date of their birth.
But one thing can be said with certainty: long-lived turtles have seriously surpassed long-lived people.
Thus, the male turtle Advaita lived at least 150 years. But it is possible that the animal’s lifespan was… 250 years!
What is known about the record-breaking turtle
The exact year of Advaita's birth is not established.
It is possible that the representative of the Giant Tortoise species was born in the mid-18th century.
Advaita is believed to have been one of the favourites of the British General Robert Clive, who died in 1774.
It is safe to say that Advaita was born no later than 1856: there is documented evidence that the turtle already lived that year.
Most likely, the unusual animal was born in the Seychelles. Then the record-breaking turtle's place of residence became the zoo of the large Indian city of Calcutta.
Advaita died in the same institution in the spring of 2006. With a possible lifespan of a quarter of a millennium, this tortoise is one of the leading contenders for the title of the oldest animal in history.
Earlier we told you about the sad record set by the Swiss wolf.
