World s Last Pinta Island Giant Tortoise Dies

	World s Last Pinta Island Giant Tortoise Dies The director of the Galapagos National Park Service has announced that Lonesome George, the last member of his giant tortoise subspecies, has died. He was around 100 years old. Fausto Llerna, his longtime caretaker at Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, in Ecuador, found the Pinta Island tortoise dead in his corral yesterday morning. Lonesome George was first discovered on Pinta Island in 1972 by a Hungarian malacologist. At the time George's subspecies was thought to have been extinct. He became a mascot for the Galapagos Islands, which attracts some 180000 visitors each year. Park officials had tried to mate Lonesome George with females of closely related giant tortoise subspecies. It happened once, after he lived with a pair of female tortoises from Wolf Volcano (Isabela Island) for 15 years. The eggs, however, were infertile. George had lived with two Espanola tortoises most recently. Lonesome George was estimated to be between 100 to 120 years old. This was relatively young for his species, which can live to around 200 years. With his passing, environmentalists believe that the Pinta Island tortoise subspecies is extinct. Park officials say they will carry out a necropsy to determine the cause of death. Edwin Naula, the director of the park, said that the park service will hold a workshop in July focusing on strategies for restoring tortoise populations, in honor of Lonesome George. For more news and videos visit ➡ ‪english.ntdtv.com‬ Follow us on Twitter ➡ ‪http Add <b>...</b>	From: NTDTV Views: 80 5 ratings
	Time: 01:17	More in News & Politics