Capital: Cairo
Population: 79,090,000
Languages: Arabic
Currency: Egyptian Pound
EGYPT

1991


CENTENTARY OF GIZA ZOO
(MS 1805)


50p
Giza Zoo 1891

 

 
Name on stamp
Current name
Accepted common name
50p
none
Crocodylus niloticus
Nile crocodile
none
Geochelone sulcata
African spur-thighed tortoise

 

The only herpetological stamps issued by Egypt, who for centuries included a cobra on the headdress of the Pharoah, are the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) and a large tortoise which must be an African spur-thighed tortoise (Geochelone sulcata) on a stamp celebrating 100 years of Giza Zoo (1891-1991). Ironically at the time the Zoo was opened it is likely there were still large populations of crocodiles in the Lower Nile, but no more.