David Allan, Photographic Competition Winner: The most iconic specimen
I describe the Dodo Skeleton as a first-hand view back into a lost past. It is one of the two most complete skeletons of the Dodo anywhere in the world.
Did you know?
Dodos were a type of pigeon.
The skeletons were collected around 1900 by French-born amateur naturalist Louis Etienne Thirioux in caves or valleys surrounding the mountains of central Mauritius. One skeleton is presently housed at the Mauritius Institute in Port Louis and the other at the Durban Natural Science Museum.
DNSM purchased the specimen over a hundred years ago, having it shipped to Durban from Mauritius. It’s been on display ever since, but it was only when it was examined by Prof. Leon Claessens that its true value became apparent.
The Dodo is one of the most powerful examples of the tragedy of extinction caused by wanton human behaviour. It is a constant warning of what priceless biodiversity treasures we can lose forever if we do not act responsibly and sustainably in managing the Earth’s resources. Just imagine what a tourist attraction this bird would be for Mauritius if the bird still survived there!
If forced to keep only five specimens in my collection, I would without a doubt keep the Dodo Skeleton because something this rare and irreplaceable would just have to make the cut.
The full background to the Dodo Skeleton and its significance can be found in the following monograph: Leon P. A. M. Claessens, Hanneke J. M. Meijer, Julian P. Hume, and Kenneth F. Rijsdijk (editors). 2015. Anatomy of the Dodo (Raphus cucullatus; L. 1758): An Osteological Study of the Thirioux Specimens. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology Volume 35 (Suppl. 1): 1-187.
Congratulations to David and the Durban Natural Science Museum team!