THE SPAN OF ANIMAL LIFE
The span of human life seems to have been extending in favourable conditions and it exceeds that of most animals. Camels live for forty or fifty years; cattle, at most, thirty; sheep, i eight or nine; dogs, about fourteen. There are recorded instances in which elephants which are of unknown age at the time of their capture have lived 150 years in captivity, and it is believed that they may reach 300 years. Whales have, it is thought, a still longer span, and there is the wellknown instance of longevity in the tortoise which was captured in 1693, and was killed accidentally in 1753. Among birds the eagle and the swan seem to enjoy the longest spell of active life, and among fish the record seems to be held by carp, which have been known by outhentic records to live 200 years. Pike and river trout may attain, respectively, ninety and fifty years.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THD19341101.2.34
Bibliographic details
Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19945, 1 November 1934, Page 7
Word Count
158THE SPAN OF ANIMAL LIFE Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19945, 1 November 1934, Page 7
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