Imagine a giant tortoise. Not just any tortoise. This is Harriet. The Place of the Land Tortoise sculpture stands before you a tribute to her incredible life.
Harriet wasn’t just any Galapagos tortoise. She lived an astonishing 175 years. That’s longer than most people live. This sculpture commemorates her remarkable existence. She was even the Guinness World Record holder as the oldest living animal in captivity.
Harriet’s journey began on the volcanic Galapagos Islands. She hatched around 1830. Charles Darwin himself encountered Harriet in 1835. He collected her along with two other tortoises Tom and Dick. Darwin studied them. His theories of evolution were changed by these tortoises.
After time in England Harriet and the other tortoises were brought to Queensland Australia by John Wickham. He was the governor-resident of Moreton Bay which later became Brisbane. The tortoises became attractions at the local Botanic Gardens. They remained there for years.
For over a century Harriet was thought to be a male named Harry. This misconception was cleared up in 1960. A keeper from Honolulu Zoo discovered Harriet was a female. This is a fascinating detail isn’t it?
Harriet continued her life in several locations. She moved to a wildlife park then finally to Steve Irwin’s Australia Zoo. There Harriet lived until she died of a suspected heart attack in 2006. This sculpture celebrates Harriet’s remarkable long life and her connection to Charles Darwin and Australian history. This magnificent creature touched many lives. She truly was an international conservation icon.