The world’s only known Pinta Island tortoise, dubbed “Lonesome George”, has died, leaving the subspecies Chelonoidis nigra abingdoni extinct.
Lonesome George’s age was estimated to be at least 100 years old, although the subspecies can live twice that long. Officials at the Galapagos National Park in Ecuador told BBC News that the beloved tortoise was found dead in his corral by his caretaker, Fausto Llerena, who had looked after Lonesome George for the last 40 years.
Lonesome George and his female companion of another subspecies produced two clutches of eggs, but sadly, the eggs were infertile.
A necropsy will be performed to determine the cause of death, and park officials are considering embalming Lonesome George’s body so that it can be displayed.
Galapagos tortoise populations were decimated by sailors and fishermen who slaughtered them for meat. In addition, tortoise habitat was eaten away when goats were introduced to the islands.
Approximately 20,000 Galapagos tortoises of other subspecies are still surviving.
Image: putneymark via Wikimedia Commons
Rhishja Cota
I am the founder of Annamiticus and I have been researching and writing about wildlife trafficking issues since 2009. I also founded World Pangolin Day in 2012. I am the author of USAID Wildlife Asia's Pangolin Species Identification Guide: A Rapid Assessment Tool for Field and Desk. I co-facilitated and was a presenter at the USAID Wildlife Asia Pangolin Care Workshop. At the 4th Regional Dialogue on Combating Trafficking of Wild Fauna and Flora, I facilitated the species roundtables on pangolins. I have trekked with forest rangers in Cambodia, journeyed to the streets of Hanoi to research the illegal wildlife trade, and to the rainforests of Sumatra and Java to document the world’s rarest rhinos. At CITES meetings, I collaborate with colleagues from around the world to lobby in favor of protecting endangered species. I hosted the Behind the Schemes podcast and am the author of the book Murder, Myths & Medicine. I enjoy music, desert gardening, herping, reading, creating, and walking with my dogs. Check out my t-shirts and stickers at snoots + teefers.