Trying to learn about a tortoise

[phil_uk]

Hi everyone. I recently inherited a stuffed tortoise, and I'm trying to find out a bit about it. I think I've worked out that he was male, but that's it. It is from the Seychelles in the late 1950s, and I'm hoping someone has an idea of the species and maybe age? It would be great to know a bit. Many thanks.

 

[ZEROPILOT]

Is this an Aldabra guys?

 

[wellington]

I would guess an Aldabra.
What is it made out of?

 

[ZEROPILOT]

I would guess an Aldabra.
What is it made out of?

I think the op assumes it's an actual taxidermied young Aldabra. And it looks like it.

 

[phil_uk]

Thanks both! Yes my understanding is that it's real, and it seems like it to my unexpert eye. It's about 70cm long, 45cm wide, 35 cm high. I see from Wikipedia that they become much bigger than that!

 

[wellington]

Thanks both! Yes my understanding is that it's real, and it seems like it to my unexpert eye. It's about 70cm long, 45cm wide, 35 cm high. I see from Wikipedia that they become much bigger than that!

Yes a real live one gets 500 pounds male and around 300 female. Much much larger.
I wasn't sure from the pics if it was a taxidermy or something else. The head looks too small and that's why I thought it was man made.
Cool either way.

 

[phil_uk]

Thanks both, very helpful and interesting.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I found a really similar looking tortoise on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02LGLvg93oQ4XTzpj9DCUt2mCjheQJFoo5WjZTUiN5VHcK7TDG35ptuq1CqdZJB3Nal&id=100049211841485

I am not sure whether this helps with aging yours.

Also, it helps to determine whether the eyes are plastic or not. In older specimens the eyes can be made of glass or other natural material like here:

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1303391739173048327

If the eyes are plastic, you can be certain that it is either a newer specimen or recently conserved.

Taxiderming tortoises is really hard and expensive. And as it is an Aldabra, it is probable that it is very old. Anyway, that is about the limits of my information on tortoise taxidermy

 

[ZEROPILOT]

So, glass eyes are older.
Makes sense.

 

[phil_uk]

I think one of the eyes is a seashell (the other one has come out and I will replace it). @The_Four_Toed_Edward , that one is amazingly similar. It really is quite magnificent.

 

[Sarah2020]

Incredible to read. Amazing info on this forum.

 

[The_Four_Toed_Edward]

I think one of the eyes is a seashell (the other one has come out and I will replace it). @The_Four_Toed_Edward , that one is amazingly similar. It really is quite magnificent.

View attachment 369614

Yeah, it really seems like yours is very old! If it was in my country, I would say pre world war one for sure, but can't say for sure about yours.