A sheltered life: the unexpected history of the Giant Tortoise

by Paul Chambers

A sheltered the unexpected history of the Giant Tortoise

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Science

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Chris Bauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book much more than I expected to, and my expectations weren't low either. There is a great combination of (some) natural and (more) human history of the giant tortoise species. It's not a book about tortoises from a biological perspective. There isn't a plethora of information relating to diet or habitat, for instance. It is, however, a very thorough reveiw focused on how humans (ranging from whaling ships to scientists) have interacted with these animals throughout history.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A picture of a Giant Tortoise mashing strawberries with his gums and large tongue, yet seemingly smiling for the camera got me hooked on reading about this gentle giant, so I was ecstatic to see a whole book dedicated to this very animal. This non-fiction work gives the unique history of any connection throughout the years with Giant Tortoises. One realizes that though this slow lumbering species may seem plain, they are anything but, and each individual can live up to 200 years (maybe even more) making them historically wise and timeless (they are old but somehow have a captured a bit of the fountain of youth. Take me to their watering hole.). You can't imagine the places and people one Giant Tortoise can know.

There are interesting facts about Charles Darwin that gave me faith that with passion for one's work, new ideas are born and can succeed. Just a young lad upon the Ship The Beagle Charles Darwin had little experience. However, what he lacked in organization and experience he made up by using his given brains. He also noticed how spectacular Giant Tortoises are (which identifies his pure genius if you ask me).

Many people and events have crossed this species path. Some intentions were good and others were mean and ignorant, but the historical lessons in every detail is written here. Sometimes, the author repeats some of these details to make a further point, which was really the same point he had discussed earlier, and this played tricks with my mind. Had I read this before? Is this not the place I left off at? I finally figured out it was just the repetitious nature of a few statements that made some chapters a little dry. Sometimes though it showed the true human nature of the scientists discussed (life gets in the way of one's work sometimes).

Though dry in some areas, this is worth the read for those that love animals. Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin is also mentioned. Apparently his Tortoise Harriet had a mysterious history that left men guessing. She died in 2006.

[Phoebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars on this one, for its unique subject matter and fascinating detail. Partly a detailed, disturbing portrait of human impact on specific island ecosystems, and partly an illuminating look at the early days of scientific research and conservation (which mainly involved the collection and often killing of hundreds of animals), this book is terrific reading from cover to cover. Giant tortoises lived in only a few remote places for millennia, thriving and multiplying, until the discovery of their islands in the 16th century by hungry sailors. Populations of tortoises on the Galapagos, the Seychelles, and Mauritius were decimated for food and oil and then by human settlement that brought dogs, goats, and other invasive species to prey on eggs and hatchlings. Distressing accounts of butchery and neglect pepper Chambers' book, but descriptions of Darwin's expedition to the Galapagos, and the efforts of two other men of his day to study and conserve the tortoises, are pretty interesting. And finally, there is Harriet: the 170+ year old tortoise who ended her days in the Australia Zoo in 2006, reputed (wrongly) to be Darwin's own tortoise. Chambers' book is a must read for anyone interested in giant tortoises. Unfortunate that most of the photos in the book are so dark and small.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite a curious book. The book covers some of the biology and evolution of the Giant Tortoises off the coast of South America, on the Galapagos Islands, and off the coast of Africa, only left on the Aldabra atol. Most of the book revolves around human intervention and eradication of a number of the species of giant tortoises. Recommended reading for a history buff with interest in Darwin, trade and human impact. For myself, it did get a bit boring reading letters to and from various gentry. Although it made me wonder what impact our digital age will have for future historians. Granted, the letters we have from the past are almost always the upper classes and not from the majority of people so perhaps the digital age will allow more communication from a broader range of people.

More importantly, it is curious to see our evolution in our relationship to the natural world around us. Several hundred years ago, mankind assumed that animals would continue to replenish their populations no matter how we decimated their numbers; now we have a much better understanding of our impact but, on the whole, have not necessarily extricated ourselves from being the main destructor on the planet.

[Izzy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was actually super interesting and a lot more enthralling than one may originally expect from a book about giant tortoises. But actually their history (known and unknown) is super fascinating and I found myself drawn into the cause of our world's remaining giant tortoises.

I particularly loved how the story talked about the different researchers who had been involved with their path to recognition by the greater world - especially Darwin and Günther; and particualrly the amount of detail that went into their stories.

The story is also told in a great way to call the readers into action for the continued protection of the tortoises and our world's species as a whole - especially those that we've negatively affected to the point of extinction.

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"No doubt in one hundred years' time, scientists will respond to our zoos and captive breeding programs with horror. Such is the wisdom of hindsight" (167).

"We can only mourn those Galapagos species that have been lost for ever and hope that the mistakes of the past are not repeated although, given humanity's track record, this is far from being certain" (247).

[Janice Bridger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book even though I found it upsetting what humans have done to the giant tortoise. I already knew some of the information about the Galapagos tortoises but was interested to learn about the Aldabaran species having seen one at Twycross zoo. The importance of the tortoise in supporting Darwins ideas was also well covered. It is disappointing that several species have become extinct and the survivors are now threatened by rising sea levels and drought. The story of Harriet was interesting as on a visit to Australia zoo in 2000 we were told that she had links to Darwin.

[Franz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was more of a story of discovery etc., with very little information on the biology of the giant tortoises. Maybe this isn't too surprising considering that many of the species became extinct before (modern) biology could generate basic biological/ecological data. But aside from this shortcoming, an interesting 'history' ...
I think I will add this book to my collection of natural history books.

[Adrian]

Giant tortoises have only ever existed in two locales- on Madagascar and its nearby islands and on the Galapagos Islands. They lived and thrived in these outposts until man arrived on them and began to kill them for food and oil. Dogs, pigs and goats introduced by man have also decimated numbers. Chambers has produced a charming history which details the oddball scientists who have championed the survival of these animals including Charles Darwin. There is much space given to the study of determining the tortoises' speciation. I would have appreciated some explanation of what environmental factors caused this animal to separate into so many species and sub-species.

[Melody · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting but not particularly recommended. Delves into the discovery, taxonomy and hunting of the Giant Tortoise, but is strangely devoid of the details I care about. I finished the book having learned precious little about the habits and diet of the tortoises and more than I cared to about individual numbers of species at various points in history. One great anecdote about Harriet, the tortoise generally and erroneously supposed to have belonged to Charles Darwin.

[sisterimapoet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't know that much about Giant Tortoises.

I know a lot more now. About where they came from and where they disappeared to.

I learnt about Darwin's trial and error. And the resilience of these scaly citizens.

Plenty of information. But packed in a way that comfortable to read.

They've had a hard time through history. Let's hope it's easy from here on...

[Derelict Space Sheep · Rating 3 out of 5]

42 WORD REVIEW:

Paul Chambers takes us through mankind’s relentless, almost comically unthinking campaign to wipe out the world’s various populations of docile, expedient (and apparently very tasty) giant tortoises, in the process casting dark light on the early history of scientific research and conservation.

[Arthur Rosenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved giant tortoises all my life, so naturally, this was a great, fun read. Not a lot of new info in it for me, though.