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First Hexagonal Postage Stamps on Aldabra Giant Tortoise

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First Hexagonal Postage Stamps on Aldabra Giant Tortoise Orissa Review shape, trigonal shape and hexagonal shape. Here we shall discuss the story of a tortoise named First Adwaita. We all know about the folk tales of tortoise who Hexagonal defeated the hare and won the race. Well, Adwaita was also a Postage winner. Before it died in the year 2006 in Alipore Stamps on Zoological Garden, Kolkata, Adwaita was perhaps the Aldabra Giant longest living animal in the world having lived for more than 250 centrally located octagonal Tortoise years. enclosure so that visitors could see this living wonder from a Nothing specific can safe distance. be told about its early life. It is Nrusingha Dash said that British sailors coming People lovingly called to India picked up some it Adwaita meaning the tortoises from the Aldabra matchless or the unique one as Islands in the Indian ocean on it was a living example of way to India. Legend has it that nature's mystery. It is supposed these were presented to Robert to have been born in 1750. It Generally we see the postage Clive (Governor General of was fed wheat bran, grams stamps of India in quadrilateral India) who was instrumental in soaked in water, small pieces shapes. In the post- firmly establishing the rule of the of carrots, sweet potatoes, Independence era Indian Postal British East India Company in beans, leafy vegetables, diced Department had issued only India especially after the Battle banana and rice mixed with two commemorative postage of Plassey (1757). Four such gram powder. The Aldabra stamps in trigonal shape on tortoises were brought to Giant Tortoise (Geochelone different occasions. But later Alipore Zoo at the time of its Gigantea) is a native of Aldabra India post has issued for the first establishment in 1857 from the atoll, part of the Seychelles time a hexagonal (odd shaped) menagerie at Latbagan, Islands in the Indian Ocean. postage stamps on August 2nd, Barrackpore, established by The Aldabra atoll has been 2008, to commemorate the Wellesley in 1800. Three of protected from human influence Alipore zoo's Aldabra giant them eventually died in the last since late 19th century and is tortoise called Adwaita. There 130 years at different times. To home to a large number of giant are several stamp designs save Adwaita the last surviving tortoises, perhaps having the issued by Department of Post specimen from being teased by world's largest population of in different countries and on unruly visitors, it was kept in a the specie. The size of an different occasions in different secluded enclosure. Sub- Aldabra Giant Tortoise can be shapes viz. round shape, sequently on 30th November, upto 4ft in length and the weight quadrilateral shape, rectagonal 1994 it was shifted to a can be about 550 lbs. They are 44 November - 2010 Orissa Review Adwaita already had India Post had issued eighty years behind him by the a set of two commemorative time Charles Darwin (father of postage stamps on 2nd August, evolution) arrived at 2008 based on Aldabra Giant Galapagos. India's First War of Tortoise Adwaita to make it Independence in 1857, memorable for our generations Partition of Bengal in 1905, the to come. The specially two World Wars, strides in the designed colourful stamps were field of Science and printed in India Security Press, Technology, the theory of Nasik which cost in different relativity, conquest of the space, denominations i.e.Rs.5/- and the Moon and the Everest, the Rs.15/-. These type of normally darkgray to black in making and later breaking of the hexagonal postage stamps colour, have small pointed head Wall of Berlin events passed on issued by the India Post were covered with scales, a long the world stage, but unique really in the sense that neck, a highly domed carapace unconcerned and unaffected, no such stamp has ever been and thick, bony scales on Adwaita, the matchless kept published by the Department of forelegs. Aldabra Giant growing and gathering layers of Post. Perforation has been Tortoise differs from the other time, more like an unmindful arranged in such a manner that Giant Tortoises found in rock sitting by the riverside. one can easily tear off one Golapagos Island in Pacific How many generations of zoo stamp from another from the Ocean by having a small neck visitors must have looked at sheetlet. The total number of plate on the carapace which stamps on a sheetlet was 13. seems to be absent in the Adwaita with amazement and Four types of sheetlet were Golapagos Giant Tortoise. marvelled at his longevity. released and 30 lakh stamps Breeding season of Aldabra Adwaita became ill were printed. Adwaita was Giant Tortoise extends from several months before his death really an amazing creature on February to May. The female after a crack developed around the earth by the Almighty Lord. tortoise usually lays 4 to 25 eggs a wound on its chest, and Wah ! Adwaita Wah ! Really and incubation period is about ultimately succumbed to death you are a greatest creature of 4 months. on 22nd March, 2006. Almighty. Giant Tortoises have Adwaita could have been subject of scientific been an interesting study on research for conservation and how he coped with such a breeding. It is said that they can prolonged human captivity. Did survive upto six months without it resent it ? Did its pine for his food and water. Indiscriminate native Aldabra or, did he Nrusingha Dash lives at hunting has threatened the ultimately get tired and went Baidyanath Sudharanee Niwas, survival of Giant Tortoises in behind Irrigation Inspection with the unfulfilled dream of one Golapagos as well as in the Bungalow, Sakhigopal-752014, day seeing his homeland ? Indian Ocean Islands. Puri. November - 2010 45.
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