Senin, 25 Juni 2012

Lonesome George dead: The giant tortoise and symbol of the Galapagos Islands has died aged 100

Lonesome George dead: The giant tortoise and symbol of the Galapagos Islands has died aged 100

By Travelmail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 05:08 EST, 25 June 2012 | UPDATED: 05:08 EST, 25 June 2012

He had become an unofficial ambassador for the Galapagos Islands and a symbol among environmentalists of disappearing species, but now he shall be known simply as the late Lonesome George.

The giant tortoise, believed to have been the last of the Pinta island subspecies, died on Sunday at an estimated 100 years of age.

The Jurassic-looking creature had become a symbol of the islands scattered off the coast of Ecuador and notorious for his inability to produce any offspring.

Tragic: A giant tortoise named Lonesome George known as a symbol for the disappearing species and of the Galapagos Islands, was found dead

Tragic: A giant tortoise named Lonesome George known as a symbol for the disappearing species and of the Galapagos Islands, was found dead

Lonesome George lived at a tortoise breeding centre on the island of Santa Cruz, and was found in his pen by his longtime keeper Fausto Llerena.

'This morning the park ranger in charge of looking after the tortoises found Lonesome George, his body was motionless,' explained the head of the Galapagos National Park, Edwin Naula. 'His life cycle came to an end.'

While 100 would be considered a good age for humans, scientists had fully expected Lonesome George to survive for another few decades at least, as giant tortoises have a life expectancy of around 200 years.

The National Park says it will investigate the death and will probably embalm the tortoise so he can be kept for future generations.

'Came to an end': The body of Lonesome George, believed to be the last living member of the Pinta island subspecies, is carried away

'Came to an end': The body of Lonesome George, believed to be the last living member of the Pinta island subspecies, is carried away

Lonesome George was first found in 1972 and scientists provided several mates in an attempt to keep the species alive in some form, but without success.

He lived for 15 years with a tortoise from Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island in the Galapagos, and despite mating, the resulting eggs were infertile.

Disappeared species: The tortoise had become an ambassador of sorts for the islands off Ecuador's coast whose unique flora and fauna helped inspire Charles Darwin's ideas on evolution

Disappeared species: The Pinta giant tortoise is now officially extinct

He also lived for a time with female tortoises from Espanola Island, which were said to be the species closest to that of Pinta tortoises, but he failed to mate with them.

Lonseome George became a symbol for the Galapagos Islands - famed for their vast numbers of endemic species and as the place where Charles Darwin developed his theory of evolution.

Darwin noted the difference in appearance between tortoises on the many islands, helping him understand how animals can adapt to their conditions.

Around 180,000 people visit the islands every year to see animals up close and have their picture taken with the giant tortoise who became known as one of the rarest creatures on Earth.

Giant tortoises used to be a common sight on the islands until the late 19th Century, but they were hunted for their meat by sailors and fishermen to the point of extinction.

Goats, introduced from the mainland, also started taking over the land, reducing numbers still further.

Around 20,000 giant tortoises of different subspecies still survive on the islands.

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Such a shame what we do to this beautiful planet and its creatures.... RIp George

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"The Pinta giant tortoise is now officially extinct." How terrible the last three words sound.

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The picture of Lonesome George being carried away made me cry.

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:(

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