Auckland A turtle which explorer Captain Cook gave to the King of Tonga in 1777 died yesterday. It was nearly 200 years old.
The animal, called Tu'imalila, died at the royal palace ground in the Tongan capital of Nuku, Alofa.
The people of Tonga regarded the animal as a chief, and special keepers were appointed to look after it. It was blinded in a bush fire a few years ago.
Tonga radio said Tu'imalila's carcass would be sent to the Auckland Museum in New Zealand.
