Deterioration of the condition The centenarian giant Aldabra tortoise is euthanized (photo)

According to US media reports, the oldest and largest animal in washington, the 100-year-old giant Aldabra tortoise Alex, was euthanized at the age of 100 in the park on the 7th because of "a large amount of liquid in the shell of the turtle and around the organs including the heart".

The Aldabra tortoise is one of the largest tortoises in the world, with a lifespan of 100 to 150 years. Alex came to the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington in the mid-1950s.

Alex was euthanized in the park on the 7th at the age of 100 because "a large amount of fluid was in the shell of the turtle and around the organs, including the heart". (Image: Smithsonian National Zoo)

The National Zoo says Alex is considered a "goodwill ambassador" for the species to which it belongs, always enthusiastically participating in training sessions and enjoying "relaxing and cooling off in muddy outdoors."

The animal caretaker said Alex was a favorite among visitors at the daily Reptile Center's displays, and it "seemed to enjoy interacting with the animal stewards."

Alex came from the wild to the Reptile Discovery Center at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in 1956, when he was about 30 years old, but has recently deteriorated in health, slept longer and appeared to be drowsy, and less interested in food and training. The veterinarians treated it with antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs and watched closely.

During the examination on the 7th, it was found that it had "a large amount of fluid in the shell and around the organs, including its heart", and the veterinarian tried to remove the fluid, but its condition worsened. So the animal caregivers decided to euthanize it.