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Giant tortoise being fed at Tring Park
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Giant tortoise being fed at Tring Park
In 1897 Walter Rothschild despatched explorer Charles Harris to the Galapagos islands to collect a large number of giant tortoises, aiming in part to protect them from potential extinction from hunting. Eventually 144 giant tortoises from Galapagos and Aldabra in the Seychelles ended up at Rothschild home grounds of Tring Park. Date: 1897
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Media ID 14239595
© Mary Evans / Natural History Museum
1897 Archive Behaviour Chelonoidis Cryptodira Exotic Feeding Giant Tortoise Keeper Lionel Rothschild Lionel Walter Rothschild Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild Menagerie Monochrome Reptile Reptilia Rothschild Sauropsid Sauropsida Side View Testudines Testudinid Testudinidae Tortoise Tring Tring Park Turtle Walter Rothschild Chelonoidis Nigra Galapagos Giant Tortoise Galapagos Tortoise Geochelone Elephantopus Looking After
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This monochrome photograph captures a moment of tender care and historical significance at Tring Park in 1897. In the image, a keeper gently feeds a giant tortoise, likely one of the 144 specimens collected by explorer Charles Harris on behalf of Sir Walter Rothschild from the Galapagos Islands and Aldabra in the Seychelles. The tortoise, a magnificent representative of the Galapagos giant land tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra), gazes up at its caretaker with curiosity. Sir Walter Rothschild, a prominent Victorian-era naturalist and collector, had despatched Harris to protect these gentle giants from potential extinction due to hunting. The tortoises were transported to Tring Park, Rothschild's estate in England, where they became a focal point of his menagerie. The image showcases the close relationship between man and these exotic creatures, with the keeper looking intently at the tortoise while it reaches out with its long neck to accept the food. This photograph is a testament to the efforts made during the 19th century to protect and study endangered species, long before the concept of conservation became a global priority. This historic moment is depicted in stunning detail, with the side view of the tortoise revealing its massive size and intricately patterned shell. The image is a valuable addition to any collection of natural history, showcasing the majesty and importance of these ancient creatures.
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