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Tui Malila was the name of a tortoise given to the royal family of Tonga by captain James Cook. It was a Madagascar Radiated Tortoise (Astrochelys radiata). This particular tortoise was given to the royal family in either 1773 or 1777, the exact date is not known. It remained in the care of the Tongan royal family until 1965, when it died of natural causes. This means that upon its death, Tui Malila was either 188 or 192 years old, but either figure gains it the title of oldest chelonian (tortoise or turtle) ever recorded. It is also the oldest living animal ever known.
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