DEATH OF RAREST CREATURE IN THE WORLD - Pinta Island tortoise "Lonesome George"

The Galapagos Islands today are a popular tourist site because of its tropical climate, beaches, and the abundance of wildlife. Historically, the islands are famous for inspiring and providing proof for Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution.

Isolated from the rest of the world, animal species from the Galapagos that are originally from mainland South America have evolved separately into new species with unique traits each catering to the island they live on and their lifestyle. One such unique species is the giant tortoise. Because of the many islands in the Galapagos (many with different environments), tortoises on each island have evolved into different subspecies and the most outstanding aspect that defines each species is the different shell shapes and patterns. 

At the beginning of the 16th century, the estimated population of all giant tortoises on the Galapagos was 250 000. However, after uncontrolled hunting for its meat, as well as capturing for zoos, the population was greatly reduced and it is only from recent conservation efforts that giant tortoise population has reached over 20 000 individuals. With such a decline, it is not surprising that many subspecies have suffered and some have gone extinct. Just last Sunday, what is believed to be the last member of the giant tortoise subspecies, Pinta Island giant tortoise, passed away. The animal is a male aptly named Lonesome George. He was estimated to be over 100 years old and time of death.

"...in his last years, has been known as the rarest creature in the world"

Lonesome George was discovered on the island in 1972 when it was largely believed that his species has gone extinct. Since then, he has become iconic for the conservation efforts on the Galapagos and, in his last years, has been known as the rarest creature in the world. Scientists have repeatedly tried to breed him with female giant tortoises of another subspecies so to preserve his genotype anyway possible. However, eggs produced have all been in-viable.

The cause of death for George is unknown. The scientists caring for George stated that it is unusual for him to die so early as members of the species can live up to 200 years old. Currently, George's corpse is being preserved in a cold chamber and a necropsy is planned to figure out the cause of death. 

George's death has brought wider attention towards conservation efforts in the Galapagos and according to the Galapagos National Park, "[t]he plight of Lonesome George provided a catalyst for an extraordinary effort by the government of Ecuador to restore not only tortoise populations throughout the archipelago but also improve the status of other endangered and threatened species".

Not all Hope is Lost

In 2009, a giant tortoise from the Galapagos named Tony in the Prague Zoo is suggested to be a purebred Pinta Island giant tortoise. Tony was hatched in 1960 and resided in the zoo since 1972. Peter Pritchard, one of the world's foremost authorities on tortoises, has found Tony's shell very similar to a Pinta Island giant tortoise's. Research is underway to validate this claim. 

Even if the Pinta Island giant tortoise population has gone extinct, Lonesome George's DNA will be stored in gene banks around the world and one day might be used to recreate the animal.