LONDON, UK – An egg laid by a Great Elephant Bird in the 17th century has gone on sale for £5,000.
John Shepherd, an antiques dealer, has placed the egg on sale at the Chelsea Antiques Fair in London. The paleontologist bought it after seeing one in a nature documentary. “The egg has a great social history. The Madagascan Elephant Bird was the only giant bird to exist with man and man caused its extinction. It’s nice to be able to show children today about environmental issues that have been going on for hundreds of years.”
The Great Elephant Bird, aepyornis maximus, was the largest flightless bird to have ever existed on Earth. Standing at over 10 feet tall and weighing half a ton, it resembled a heavily built ostrich.
Although physically intimidating, they were hunted into extinction in the mid-1600s. Eggshells have been found in the remains of human fires in a recent excavation. It is presumed not only humans but other animals feasted on their eggs when possible, which could have caused their demise. The bird would not have been a threat to humans, as it was an herbivore.
The egg on sale has a circumference of over three feet, but is hollow, as it was found broken and then pieced back together. About 35 specalist antiques dealers will be attending the sale.
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I think they should heat it up and see if maybe the creature comes back to life and hatches.
thats hilarious
Wow… Incredible!
I want the drumsticks!
they said "is hollow, as it was found broken and then pieced back together. " duh
sigh, the gigantorapors erlianesis is exthinguished 85 million years ago.. Quote1: "An egg laid by a Great Elephant Bird in the 17th century has gone on sale for £5,000." how wonderful how they can still make eggs while being 85 million years death and disappeared from our planet.
Quote2: "The Great Elephant Bird, aepyornis maximus, was the largest flightless bird to have ever existed on Earth. Standing at over 10 feet tall and weighing half a ton, it resembled a heavily built ostrich." How can 10 feet tall be the biggest bird on earth? the gigantoraptors where already 3 times that big (30ft minimum), lets even not talk about other ones, this one i knew in a second so the guy who sells that egg is really a scammer & a clueless guy that only thinks that what he thinks is correct, not what happened in the history -> big failure
Ahh Ross, it's too easy to know everything. A quick google search gave me plenty of information regarding the presence of the Great Elephant Bird in Madagascar up to 1648. I think you have confused this with the Gigantoraptors which indeed died out a long time ago. And while being feathered, there is disagreement amongst those scientists who dedicate their lives to study of such beasts as to whether they can be considered birds. If this is true, then both of the comments that you question are quite possibly true until science proves otherwise. The guy that sold the egg would probably have done his research as antiques dealing at that level requires a good reputation and credibility in order to carry on in business. Besides, I know of the chap and he is definately neither clueless nor a scammer. He is actually a specialist in miniatures and pottery so this was a bit of a departure. Please be careful of throw away comments, they can get you in trouble
You speak of "science" proving truth and yet you believe "google search"? rofl
HOW MUCH MONEY IS THAT
HOW MUCH USD IS THAT
Approx $8000
This is ridiculas
Hi, I have an egg in similar shape that my family has had for many years finally passed on to me. I Have the egg in California now( I,m from Africa) I would like to sell it-You can contact me at jpempire1@yahoo.com
One was sold to an Australian Museum 2 years ago for approximately $35000
I have 2 in Africa and 1in the USA for sale you can reach me at jpempire1@yahoo.com
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