420 Year tortoise dies in Alaafin’s palace

By Omolade Adegbuyi

One of the world’s oldest tortoises has died.

The tortoise, born around 1700 died in the twilight of Monday.

Palace sources in Oyo said Baba, as he was called would be given a royal burial with full traditional military salute.

“The tortoise is one of the oldest in the world. He was born 425 years ago and has been a key witness to Oyo travails and triumphs”, Akin Adeyi, a local leader in Oyo town told Irohinoodua.

He described the tortoise as a living legend who survived the various ancient wars including the ferocious attempt to capture him during the Oyo wars with Fulani

“Because of his experience, he excaped capture during the old time war by hiding himself deep inside the sand to avoid detection by enemy forces,” h said.

He said Baba remained loyal to the palace until his last breath.

Baba died after falling ill and losing his appetite, palace sources said.

In his last days,, he was said to have been “cool and calm” rarely coming out of his shell.

Baba died on Monday at the Alaafin’s Palace in Oyo, according to the palace’s Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye.

The 420-year estimate is based on the Palace’s oral history, which holds that Baba had survived several generations of Oyo monarchs.

Durojaiye said Baba was regarded as more than a pet, describing the tortoise as a historical relic inherited by successive Alaafins.

“Baba was regarded as the oldest indigene. It was the Alaafin’s most besotted pet. The incumbent Paramount Ruler met it in the Palace, as Baba was nourished by a succession of Kings, who inherited him as part of the relics of their ancestors,” he said.

According to the palace official, oral accounts traced Baba’s arrival at the present palace to Oyo-Ile, the capital of the old Oyo Empire.

The tortoise reportedly became a tourist attraction, drawing visitors who wanted to see an animal believed to have survived for centuries

Its name, “Baba”, means father in Yoruba and reflected the affection and respect attached to the animal.

“Baba was more than a turtle in status. He represented a part of the oral history of the Yoruba race,” Durojaiye said.

He said the tortoise was cared for by two palace officials and fed with watermelon, corn pap wrapped in leaves and grass.

Durojaiye said Baba remained strong and friendly and often attracted crowds whenever visitors came to the palace.

However, the tortoise reportedly fell ill on Monday and stopped eating.