NEWS
420-Year-Old Tortoise ‘Baba’ Dies in Oyo Palace as Age Claim Sparks Scientific, Traditional Debate
The death of an ancient tortoise popularly known as Baba, reportedly believed to have lived for an extraordinary 420 years, has triggered a fresh debate between scientific experts and traditionalists over the animal’s remarkable age and its historical significance.
Baba, regarded as a treasured relic of the historic Oyo Kingdom, reportedly died on September 14, 2026, at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, after falling ill. The tortoise was subsequently buried, bringing an end to what had been described as several centuries of existence within the royal environment.
However, rather than ending with its burial, questions surrounding Baba’s reported age have continued to generate discussion, particularly among zoologists and members of the public seeking evidence capable of establishing that the tortoise genuinely lived for more than four centuries.
Tortoises are widely recognised for their exceptional longevity, with some species capable of living for well over a century.
However, determining the exact age of individual tortoises can be difficult, particularly where there are no reliable records documenting their birth and subsequent history.
Experts have also pointed to inconsistencies that have emerged in historical accounts of exceptionally old tortoises, including changes in reported species or sex and gaps in record-keeping. Such discrepancies have raised the possibility that some extraordinary longevity claims may have resulted from mistaken identities, replacement of animals or errors passed down through generations.
One of the most frequently cited examples of an exceptionally long-lived tortoise is Adwaita, an Aldabra giant tortoise that lived at the Alipore Zoological Gardens in Kolkata, India.
Adwaita was believed to have been between 150 and 255 years old when he died in 2006, although his exact age has also been the subject of historical uncertainty.
Against that background, the reported 420-year lifespan of Baba has attracted particular attention, with zoologists questioning whether such an age can be reconciled with established scientific understanding of reptilian ageing.
A renowned academic in the Department of Zoology at the University of Ibadan, Dr Adetunji Adewale, told LEADERSHIP that a 420-year-old tortoise would be biologically impossible based on currently confirmed scientific evidence. He explained that the maximum verified lifespan of giant tortoises is generally placed at roughly 190 to 250 years.
According to him, “Tortoises have slow metabolisms and high resistance to oxidative stress, but their cells still degrade over time.”
He maintained that claims involving tortoises living beyond 300 or 400 years have generally been rooted in folklore, legends or oral traditions rather than reliable documentation establishing the animals’ dates of birth.
Adewale further identified Jonathan, a Seychelles giant tortoise living on the island of St Helena, as the oldest known living land animal, with an estimated age of about 193 years. He also referred to the Aldabra giant tortoise formerly kept at the Alipore Zoological Gardens in India, which was believed to have reached approximately 250 years before its death in 2006.
The zoologist said the reported death of a tortoise believed to be 420 years old would ordinarily warrant extensive scientific investigation.
“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.”
While the scientific community continues to approach the claim through the lens of biological evidence, traditionalists have interpreted Baba’s death from an entirely different cultural and spiritual perspective.
Traditionalist Ifeyemi Oludare described the tortoise not simply as an animal but as an enduring witness to generations of royal history. From the traditional perspective, Baba’s extraordinary age and long association with the palace gave the animal a status beyond ordinary wildlife.
Oludare said the tortoise “Has transitioned as a revered elder, royal witness and custodian of the kingdom’s history to join the ancestors.
He explained that within Yoruba cultural traditions, the passing of an ancient palace figure could be marked through reflections and eulogies similar to those associated with revered traditional elders.
“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.
Oludare further argued that the significance of Baba’s reported longevity extends beyond its biological existence, portraying the tortoise as a symbolic link between successive generations of the Oyo royal institution.
He said, “The shell carried the weight of our history; now your spirit is free.”
According to him, the animal should be viewed as a bridge connecting the ancient foundations of the kingdom with the present era, particularly because of its alleged presence through the reigns of numerous traditional rulers.
He added, “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.”
The controversy surrounding Baba’s reported 420-year lifespan therefore sits at the intersection of two very different approaches to history: scientific verification based on biological and documentary evidence, and traditional knowledge preserved through oral history, cultural memory and symbolism.
For scientists, establishing the tortoise’s actual age would require verifiable historical records and biological evidence. For traditionalists, however, the importance of Baba may extend beyond a numerical calculation of years, encompassing the animal’s place within the cultural memory and heritage of the Oyo royal institution.
As discussions continue following the tortoise’s death, the case has nevertheless renewed public interest in the remarkable longevity of tortoises and the enduring relationship between animals, royal institutions, history and traditional heritage in Yorubaland.