By Daily Mail Reporter
|
A giant tortoise known as a symbol for the disappearing species and of the Galapagos Islands died on Sunday.
The tortoise named Lonesome George, who gained notoriety with its failed efforts to produce offspring, was found dead on Sunday, officials at the Galapagos National Park announced.
Lonesome George was believed to be the last living member of the Pinta island subspecies.
Scroll down for video
Tragic: A giant tortoise named Lonesome George known as a symbol for the disappearing species and of the Galapagos Islands, was found dead
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.
He was found in his pen by his longtime keeper, Fausto Llerena, the park said in a statement.
'This morning the park ranger in charge of looking after the tortoises found Lonesome George, his body was motionless,' the head of the Galapagos National Park, Edwin Naula. 'His life cycle came to an end.'
Lonesome George's age was not known but scientists believed he was about 100.
That's not especially old for giant tortoises, who can live well over a century.
Scientists had expected him to live another few decades at least.
'Came to an end': The body of Lonesome George, believed to be the last living member of the Pinta island subspecies, is carried away
Various mates had been provided for Lonesome George after he was found in 1972.
However, it proved to be unsuccessful attempts to keep his subspecies alive.
He lived at a tortoise breeding center on the archipelago's island of Santa Cruz.
Attempts were initially made to mate Lonesome George with two female tortoises from Wolf Volcano.
But the eggs they produced were infertile.
Two females from Spanish island's tortoise population, the species most closely related to Pinta tortoises, were placed with him last year.
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
The park said the cause of his death would be investigated.
The pen where George lived was visited by thousands of tourists every year, who often had to scramble with each other to take pictures of one of the rarest creatures on Earth.
The Galapagos' giant tortoise population was decimated after the arrival of humans.
Tortoises were hunted for their meat by sailors and fishermen to the point of extinction.
Their habitat has been eaten away by goats introduced from the mainland.
But a recovery program run by the park and the Charles Darwin Foundation has increased the overall population from 3,000 in 1974 to 20,000 today.
VIDEO: Paradise lost... See Lonesome George at the ripe age of 90 at home in his pen...Â
-
Kate told to curtsey to blood princesses Beatrice and... -
Mom who made sex tape with son, 16, is jailed for four... -
'Gentlemen, take tips': Obama reveals how he romanced... -
Ann Curry's replacement at Today set to be named next week... -
That's some 30th birthday gift! Queen gives William a... -
Growth of the 'breastaurant': Waitresses offering dinner and... -
The little girl who didn't exist: Mother 'doted on her two... -
Bought for $15,000... sold for $2m: Incredible 300-year-old... -
Pictured: The man who 'smashed a 77-year-old woman in the... -
Puppy love: The lion cub called Simba who has forged an... -
Mommy bear to the rescue after cub gets trapped in a... -
Lonesome George, the LAST giant Galapagos Islands turtle,...
Share this article:
Here's what other readers have said. Why not add your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
The comments below have not been moderated.
- Newest
- Oldest
- Best rated
- Worst rated
Oh no i just told my wife ,we are really upset about this he was barely into adulthood ,passing away at such a young age, i am glad they are investigating his death .
Report abuse
does anyone know the age of the oldest turtle ever recorded, it's certainly over 120 - david n, west springfield, ma, usa, 25/6/2012 6:10Not too sure but Tu'i Malila (1777 - 19 May 1965) was a tortoise given to the royal family of Tonga by Captain James Cook. It was a radiated tortoise (Geochelone radiata) from Madagascar and is the second longest-lived tortoise whose age has been verified so probably 188 years old but that's just a guess.
Report abuse
Is this the tortoise from One Foot In The Grave?
Report abuse
Can't we use our technology to reproduce this creature? Don't tell me with all the innovation of medical science, we can't keep this species alive.
Report abuse
Poor old George. C'mon DM, please replace turtle with tortoise in the headline so it agrees with the article's copy,.. nearly as bad as calling a chimpanzee or orangutan a monkey instead of an ape. whale or dolphin a fish instead of a mammal etc.
Report abuse
It is amazing that the planet and it's inhabitants managed to survive and flourish before humans decided they were smarter than natural selection.
Report abuse
So many SPELLING mistakes and grammEr errors on the Mail website...further education perhaps? - Richard Norman, St Sulpice Lauriere France, 25/6/2012 9:10 ******************************* Irony overload!
Report abuse
Another species extinct thanks to us. But I'm sure once we remove all environmental and poaching regulations the free market will fix it right? Or if species become extinct who cares? So long as people get to hunt and kill as many animals as their 'preferences' call for then the most efficient outcome has been reached. And that's all what matters right?
Report abuse
RIP George. Such sad news for a Monday.
Report abuse
So many spelling mistakes and grammer errors on the Mail website...further education perhaps? - Richard Norman, St Sulpice Lauriere France, 25/6/2012 09:10 I just love it when someone comments about spelling mistakes and then MAKES ONE HIMSELF !!!!! To quote you, "further education perhaps"?
Report abuse
The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar