Last big egg posting ever….

Having majored on over-sized eggs in the past – indeed, in the recent past – The Forager is pleased to announce that this is the last post he will ever make on the subject – simply because anything else would be an anti-climax.

It has emerged that the largest egg in the world is about to go under the hammer – well, not literally, of course – at Summers Place Auctions in West Sussex. And this time, it really is the largest egg in the world.

The egg, which measures over a foot in length, was actually laid by the now extinct elephant bird – a resident of Madagascar which grew to over 3m in height. The flightless bird became extinct in the 17th century.

According to Errol Fuller, curator for the sale, there are only about 100 such eggs in the world today. One of which is owned by TV naturalist David Attenborough.

It has been estimated that one elephant bird egg is equivalent to seven ostrich eggs, or 100 hens eggs. But, with an expected sale value of between £20,000 and £30,000, it’s a whole lot more valuable.