Harriet and Charles Darwin…

Who was Harriet? And what was her relationship to Charles Darwin? Yes, *the* Darwin of the theory of evolution. His lover? No, that was Emma Wedgwood. Indeed, 'relative of'. She was the granddaughter of the famous pottery manufacturer Josiah. Wedgwood. A little hint; Harriet had with the Galapagos Islands to make. The name of this archipelago comes from the Spanish word for saddle, so Galapagos. But who was Harriet? Harriet was a Galapagos giant tortoiseThe island group owes its name to the characteristic shell of these giant tortoises, which resembles a saddle. If Harriet were still alive, she would have turned 178 today. However, she passed away in 2006 at Australia Zoo, where she had spent her twilight years since 1988. Of course, it is not precisely known whether Harriet was indeed born on November 15. That date was chosen because these tortoises breed until mid-November. DNA research has shown, however, that Harriet once swam near the Galapagos Islands and hatched from her egg in 1930. Incidentally, Harriet was originally named Harry. It was not until 1952 that it was discovered the giant tortoise was a female. Stamps featuring tortoises, both land and water turtles, come in all shapes and sizes. Stamps specifically of the Galapagos giant tortoise are much rarer. A few beautiful ones: Stamp from Ecuador, 100 years after Darwin spent 6 weeks studying on the Galapagos Islands

Also from Ecuador, to which the Galapagos Islands politically belong United Nations 2007 But what has Charles Darwin Is this dealing with Harriet and the Galapagos Islands now? Great Britain issued this stamp in 1982, 100 years after Darwin's death. British Indian Ocean Territories on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Darwin's death On the Galapagos Islands, Darwin developed his theory of evolutionAccording to tradition, Darwin brought the giant tortoise to England in 1835. Stamp from Ecuador, issued in 1935, 100 years after Darwin spent 6 weeks studying on the Galapagos Islands. Darwin's ship, The Beagle, had many more turtles on board. These were eaten on the return journey to England. Three remained. Assuming they were males, they were given the names Tom, Dick, and Harry. In 1942, they were transferred to Australia because the English winters proved to be too cold for the animals. Dick died fairly soon after, and Tom in 1929. Harry, later Harriet, remained at Steve Irwin's reptile center in the Australia Zoo until her death. She had a spacious enclosure there with a mud bath and a heated cave. She weighed over 150 kilos and had a vegetarian diet. Her favorite food consisted of the red petals of the tropical hibiscus. Harriet died at the age of 176. As far as I know, a stamp featuring the celebrity herself has never been issued. Who knows, perhaps in the future.