July 8, 2009
Dodo Drawing
Telegraph.co.uk reports that a 350-year old sketch of a dodo -- drawn during a time when there still were dodos in the world -- is gaining attention and expected to fetch over $9,000 at auction.
The dodo is the first recorded human-caused extinction, and a reminder that our actions do have very permanent consequences for the Earth and other species.
Of course, you can see an actual dodo skeleton at the Harvard Museum of Natural History. Pictured here is the my photo of a model of a dodo that sits in the case with the skeleton, based on contemporary drawings and made with chicken feathers. On the drawing in question, an expert had this to say:
Another dodo expert, Anthony Cheke, said: "There is always a lot of interest in artefacts like these because the dodo is such a curiosity. This is certainly an unusual image although the drawing is, frankly, not very good even by contemporary standards."
Oh, snap! Take that, wannabee dodo artist from 350 years ago! You just got served.
