Lonesome George, last-of-his-kind Galapagos tortoise, dies
By The Week Staff | June 25, 2012
L
onesome George, a giant Galapagos tortoise believed to be the last of his kind, was found dead Sunday morning. Presumed to be about 100 years old, Lonesome George has been a conservation icon and tourist magnet since his discovery in 1972. He was the last known Pinta tortoise (Geochelone abigdoni), from the small Galapagos island La Pinta, and efforts to get him to reproduce with females from similar subspecies failed. Pinta tortoises can live to 200. A necropsy for George is planned. Some 20,000 giant tortoises still live in the Galapagos chain.
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