A Sheltered Life: The Unexpected History of the Giant Tortoise
NB: This is a secondhand book in very good condition. See our FAQs for more information. Please note that the jacket image is indicative only. A description of our secondhand books is not always available. Please contact us if you have a question about this title.
Author: Paul Chambers
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 320
For millennia these mighty beasts lived in isolation on remote oceanic islands such as the Galapagos, Seychelles and Mauritius. From the sixteenth century, the discovery that tortoises were good to eat and their strategic location led to a wholesale plunder of their population by ships making long voyages. Later, Victorian scientists became fascinated by these creatures, and from wondering why it was that such large animals were always to be found on remote islands came the first understanding of ecology and biogeography. It was the giant tortoise that directly inspired Darwin to create his theory of natural selection. Could a tortoise which Darwin took from the Galapagos in 1835 still be alive today in an Australian zoo Indeed many people have become fascinated with these gentle giants. We learn why the French were surrendered the island of Mauritius but baulked at handing over their mascot tortoise and why the discovery of some dodo bones inspired Victorian scientists to launch a 'save the tortoise campaign'. The twentieth century saw the establishment of wildlife reserves in the Galapagos and elsewhere but it was too late for many species. Paul Chambers shows how modern genetics has been able to track down members of what were once believed to be extinct populations of these magnificent creatures.
Author: Paul Chambers
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 320
For millennia these mighty beasts lived in isolation on remote oceanic islands such as the Galapagos, Seychelles and Mauritius. From the sixteenth century, the discovery that tortoises were good to eat and their strategic location led to a wholesale plunder of their population by ships making long voyages. Later, Victorian scientists became fascinated by these creatures, and from wondering why it was that such large animals were always to be found on remote islands came the first understanding of ecology and biogeography. It was the giant tortoise that directly inspired Darwin to create his theory of natural selection. Could a tortoise which Darwin took from the Galapagos in 1835 still be alive today in an Australian zoo Indeed many people have become fascinated with these gentle giants. We learn why the French were surrendered the island of Mauritius but baulked at handing over their mascot tortoise and why the discovery of some dodo bones inspired Victorian scientists to launch a 'save the tortoise campaign'. The twentieth century saw the establishment of wildlife reserves in the Galapagos and elsewhere but it was too late for many species. Paul Chambers shows how modern genetics has been able to track down members of what were once believed to be extinct populations of these magnificent creatures.
Description
NB: This is a secondhand book in very good condition. See our FAQs for more information. Please note that the jacket image is indicative only. A description of our secondhand books is not always available. Please contact us if you have a question about this title.
Author: Paul Chambers
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 320
For millennia these mighty beasts lived in isolation on remote oceanic islands such as the Galapagos, Seychelles and Mauritius. From the sixteenth century, the discovery that tortoises were good to eat and their strategic location led to a wholesale plunder of their population by ships making long voyages. Later, Victorian scientists became fascinated by these creatures, and from wondering why it was that such large animals were always to be found on remote islands came the first understanding of ecology and biogeography. It was the giant tortoise that directly inspired Darwin to create his theory of natural selection. Could a tortoise which Darwin took from the Galapagos in 1835 still be alive today in an Australian zoo Indeed many people have become fascinated with these gentle giants. We learn why the French were surrendered the island of Mauritius but baulked at handing over their mascot tortoise and why the discovery of some dodo bones inspired Victorian scientists to launch a 'save the tortoise campaign'. The twentieth century saw the establishment of wildlife reserves in the Galapagos and elsewhere but it was too late for many species. Paul Chambers shows how modern genetics has been able to track down members of what were once believed to be extinct populations of these magnificent creatures.
Author: Paul Chambers
Format: Hardback
Number of Pages: 320
For millennia these mighty beasts lived in isolation on remote oceanic islands such as the Galapagos, Seychelles and Mauritius. From the sixteenth century, the discovery that tortoises were good to eat and their strategic location led to a wholesale plunder of their population by ships making long voyages. Later, Victorian scientists became fascinated by these creatures, and from wondering why it was that such large animals were always to be found on remote islands came the first understanding of ecology and biogeography. It was the giant tortoise that directly inspired Darwin to create his theory of natural selection. Could a tortoise which Darwin took from the Galapagos in 1835 still be alive today in an Australian zoo Indeed many people have become fascinated with these gentle giants. We learn why the French were surrendered the island of Mauritius but baulked at handing over their mascot tortoise and why the discovery of some dodo bones inspired Victorian scientists to launch a 'save the tortoise campaign'. The twentieth century saw the establishment of wildlife reserves in the Galapagos and elsewhere but it was too late for many species. Paul Chambers shows how modern genetics has been able to track down members of what were once believed to be extinct populations of these magnificent creatures.
A Sheltered Life: The Unexpected History of the Giant Tortoise
$15.00