155-Year-Old Eel Dies: Swedish Eel, Aged 155, Dies In Old Village Water Well

A 155-year-old Swedish eel dies after living a long life at a village in a well. The eel, known as “Ale,” was born in 1859 and has lived a peaceful life in the fishing village of Brabtevik, which is in the Skane district of Sweden. An 8-year-old boy by the name of Samuel Nilsson threw him in it and he’s lived there ever since.

As Digital Journal reports, Ale is survived by his 110-year-old companion that has no name. The report states that Ale’s remains will be examined to determine his exact age and how he managed to live so long.

The Local has more on the eel’s story. Tomas Kjellman owned the old well that the 155-year-old eel died in.

“My family bought the cottage in 1962, and we always knew the house pet was included,” Kjellman says.

The eel’s life was well-documented when he was alive. Tomas grew up with him.

“Of course it’s sad. I have memories of the eel from when I was a child,” Kjellman shares.

Whenever the family had crayfish parties, Ale was a popular party guest as everyone would be intrigued by the creature.

Ale was discovered when well’s lid was removed on Thursday.

Tomas recounts:

“It was uncanny when we took off the lid and saw it in pieces. It had apparently been there for a while and had basically boiled.”

The poor eel was in pieces, but his spine was intact. When the eel has his autopsy, the rings in the otolith (ear stone) will determine his precise age.

Although this eel at 155 is a mystery since most eels die at the age of 7, Kjellman is astonished at how Ale kept on going.

He says:

“Eels normally only live to be 7 years old. They usually get so fat and their intestinal canals stop working. But this one just lived and lived and lived.”

Ale has actually made cameo appearances on Swedish TV shows, Kjellman says. After all, it’s not everyday you hear about a 155 eel that dies living through “two world wars,” as Tomas Kjellman notes.

Apparently the circumstances and conditions for this eel to live so long were just right.

The Inquisitr has written about other animals and various creatures that have lived long lives. The world’s oldest dog died at the age of 26 in Japan. The world’s oldest cat died at the age of 24. Some animals have good genes and a healthy lifestyle to carry on a life full of longevity.

[Image via NY Daily News]