Known as the rarest species in the world, the Pinta Tortoise of the Galapagos Islands are now extinct.
‘Lonesome George’ was thought to be 100 years old, which actually only made him middle aged. Although other giant tortoise exist in the Galapagos archipelago, the Pinta Tortoise was a distinct sub-species. Breeding programs between ‘Lonesome George’ and different island sub-species failed to produce fertile eggs, in fact the last 15 years of Georges life were spent in the company of other female tortoise, so it seems George wasn’t so lonely after all.
The Pinta Tortoise were hunted to the brink of extinction by sailors and fisherman for meat throughout the 19th century. Sailors even took them with them for fresh meat supplies as the tortoise would go into hibernation in the damp dark conditions. Then the introduction of goats to the island meant that the few remaining tortoise had to compete for their food and that ultimately sealed their fate.
The subtle differences between the Giant Tortoises on each of the Galapagos islands, helped Charles Darwin prove the theory of evolution. Genome tests of the tortoise on Isabela, the largest island of the Galapagos, have revealed some hybrid Pinta-Isabela Giant Tortoise, so there may yet be a future discovery of another Pinta Tortoise.
‘Lonesome George’ stood as a symbol for conservationists around the world and as a reminder of our influence on the environment and its inhabitants.
The ‘Galapagos Conservancy’ has set up a memorial fund, of which the proceeds will go towards preserving the other rare / endangered species and habitats of the Galapagos. Donate Now.