Lonesome George, the last surviving member of the Pinta Island subspecies tortoises, has passed away at age around 100.
The species is now extinct.
The Pinta Island tortoises usually live for around 200 years, and cause of death is unclear. Lonesome George who lived in the Galapagos Islands was a conversationist icon took with him yet another species from our planet.
The sad news is something that has all animal lovers, and conservationist in mourning. We humans do so much damage to this planet, and while some people work tirelessly to protect endangered species, sometimes this work fails. George was not lonely though. Although repeated attempts to breed him with females from the Espanola tortoises (they’re closely related to George’s subspecies), he had two female tortoise companions with him up to the end.
We hope Lonesome George, now he’s crossed the rainbow bridge, has found all his long lost brothers, sisters, family, and friends.
RIP, Lonesome George.
