Aldabra Giant Tortoise

The Saga of Adwaita

This is the remarkable story of a tortoise named Adwaita—an enduring symbol of longevity and resilience. Like the legendary tortoise of folklore who defeated the hare, Adwaita too was a winner in his own right. Until his death in 2006 at the Alipore Zoological Garden, he was believed to be one of the longest-living animals in the world, having lived for more than 250 years.

A Journey Through Time

Though no one can precisely recount his early life, legend suggests that British sailors travelling from the Indian Ocean to India collected giant tortoises from Aldabra Island. These tortoises were reportedly presented to Robert Clive, who played a decisive role in establishing the rule of the British East India Company in India after the historic Battle of Plassey.

Four such tortoises were later transferred in 1857 to the Alipore Zoo from the Barrackpore menagerie established by Richard Wellesley in 1800. Over time, three died, leaving Adwaita as the sole surviving specimen. To protect him from unruly visitors, he was initially housed in a secluded enclosure and later, on 30 November 1994, shifted to a centrally located octagonal enclosure where admirers could safely view this living marvel.

Lovingly named “Adwaita,” meaning “the matchless” or “the unique,” he was thought to have been born around 1750—though some accounts suggest 1705. His diet consisted of wheat bran, soaked grams, carrots, sweet potatoes, beans, leafy vegetables, bananas, and rice mixed with gram powder.

The Aldabra Giant Tortoise

The Aldabra Giant Tortoise is native to the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles Islands of the Indian Ocean. The atoll has been protected since the late 19th century and is home to one of the world’s largest populations of giant tortoises.

These tortoises can grow up to 4 feet in length and weigh as much as 550 pounds. Typically dark grey to black in colour, they possess a small pointed head covered with scales, a long neck, a highly domed carapace, and thick, bony forelegs. Unlike the Galapagos Giant Tortoise of the Pacific Ocean, the Aldabra species has a small neck plate on its carapace.

Primarily terrestrial and solitary, Aldabra Giant Tortoises gather only when food or water is scarce. Their breeding season extends from February to May, during which females lay 4 to 25 eggs with an incubation period of about four months. Remarkably, they can survive for up to six months without food or water.

However, indiscriminate hunting historically threatened giant tortoise populations in both the Indian Ocean islands and the Galapagos.

A Silent Witness to History

By the time Charles Darwin arrived at the Galapagos Islands in 1835 and revolutionized our understanding of evolution, Adwaita had already lived for decades. He silently witnessed monumental global events—the First War of Indian Independence (1857), the Partition of Bengal (1905), two World Wars, the formulation of the theory of relativity, the conquest of space, the scaling of Mount Everest, and even the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Unconcerned by the march of human history, Adwaita continued his slow, steady existence—layering centuries upon his massive shell. Generations of zoo visitors gazed upon him in awe, marveling at his extraordinary longevity.

Final Days

Several months before his passing, a crack developed around a wound on his chest, leading to complications. On 22 March 2006, Adwaita succumbed, bringing to an end a life that had spanned centuries.

His prolonged captivity raises unanswered questions. Did he long for his native Aldabra? Did he resent confinement, or did time simply pass over him like wind over stone? These remain mysteries—perhaps forever.

Commemorative Postage Stamp

In honour of this extraordinary species and to highlight the importance of wildlife conservation, the Department of Posts has proudly issued a commemorative postage stamp on the Aldabra Giant Tortoise, celebrating one of nature’s most enduring and enigmatic creations.