Chris Calle: Galapagos Giant Tortoise

Artist: Chris Calle
1961 -
Nationality: American
Artwork Year: 2001
Image Size: 11 by 13 inches
Overall Size: 14.5 by 20 inches
Medium: Mixed media on cold press illustration board

The Galapagos giant tortoise is found in the Galapagos Islands 200 miles off the coast of Ecuador. In this archipelago of over 50 islands, there is only one species of giant tortoise -- but there were at least 14 original "varieties" in the mid-16OOs -- each in some way distinctive to the island upon which it lived. Three varieties are now extinct, and today the giant tortoise numbers only about 15,000. Famous for its longevity, this wonderful animal lives to be over 200 years old. Weighing 500 pounds or more, it can live for up to a year without food or water, on tremendous stored reserves. In the past, whalers, sailors and pirates kept giant tortoises upside down like barrels in the bilge of their ships as a source of fresh meat during the voyage. The giant tortoise matures about age 25. Mating is arduous and nests take many days to build. Only two to 16 eggs are laid once a year. There are two types of shells -- highly domed and saddleback-shaped, with the absence of a neck shield, allowing it to stretch its long neck up to reach high-growing vegetation. It eats large quantities of prickly pear, cactus, fruits, and many other native plants. Populations are very low now, as a result of wholesale slaughter during the whaling era. In addition, introduced species, such as rats, raid tortoise nests and kill the young. Even more importantly, pigs, feral goats and domestic cattle have consumed the native vegetation which has sheltered and fed the Galapagos Giant tortoise for centuries.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood® First Day Cover for the U.N. F.s.0,90 GN Galapagos Giant Tortoise Endangered Species stamp issued February 1, 2001.

Artwork Copyright © 2001 Unicover Corporation. All Rights Reserved under United States and international copyright laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, transmit, or otherwise exploit the Artwork in any way. Images of the Artwork may be watermarked and/or digitally watermarked. Any sale of the physical original does not include or convey the Copyright or any right comprised in the copyright.

Our Stock Number (SKU): XB16908

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