Lonesome George at AMNH in NYC

[pdrobber]

I went to the Museum of Natural History today and saw him on display.

The lighting was a bit disappointing, although understandable that it may be for preservation reasons. Being on display in a glass box though, you'd think they might set it up some way that the glare wouldn't be so horrible.

Anyway, here are the pictures I took. I'll probably go back and try to get better pictures before he returns to Ecuador.
























I laughed when I saw this in the glass box with him, thought a few jokes could be made about the temp and humidity.

 

[Yvonne G]

It's an interesting display, but I wonder at his weight? Only 165lbs? Do you think that's a mistake?

 

[pdrobber]

I did think to myself that he was smaller than I had imagined.
Maybe it's the weight of him in his current state.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

A little dry...
Wow, thanks so much! I want to go and see him
I thought he might be a little bigger? Aren't Galaps peeking at 5+ long??

 

[bouaboua]

Kinda small to me too.

 

[EP429]

I'd read a few publications a couple of weeks ago stating that the saddleback-type subspecies tended to be much smaller-framed than their domed counterparts. Even so, he looks like he'd have weighed more than 165.

 

[harris]

Thank you very much for sharing that. Fascinating!

 

[ShadowRancher]

Wow i had no idea that was in the works for him...although I guess it makes sense. Now he can continue to advocate for our shelled buddies and the real possibility of extinction some of them face.

 

[Yellow Turtle01]

Wow i had no idea that was in the works for him...although I guess it makes sense. Now he can continue to advocate for our shelled buddies and the real possibility of extinction some of them face.

Here's a thingie all about his preservation- http://www.livescience.com/47917-lonesome-george-museum-exhibit.html -It's sad, but, yes, you're right, it's a good thing too.

 

[Moozillion]

Thanks so much- that was interesting!!!!