Santa Cruz Island
The most famous giant tortoise in the world is, by far, Lonesome George. This tortoise is the last living individual from Pinta Island. He was found on that island in 1972, and since then he has been kept in a special place at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS). The original hope was to begin a long term captive-breeding program for this race, once a female Pinta tortoise was found. To date no females, or “Georgettes”, or even any additional males have been located despite the great efforts made and the CDRS’ long standing offer of a ten thousand US dollars reward for the return of a Pinta female.
During the past decades the options of what could be done with George appeared to be extremely limited. One of these alternatives was to mate him to females of a race that was in size, shape and genetics, similar to him. The resulting offspring, after continuos back crossing and in succeeding generations would result in a form closely resembling George.
In today’s picture you can see George, between his two companions, closely related females from Volcano Wolf. It is sad, but George does not show any sexual interest in them. Concerned scientists suggested that George should be cloned to produce more Pinta tortoises. Even if cloning could be achieved, it would not be a suitable alternative. Yes, it would result in exact George replicas, but all of them will have the same problem. They would be as lonely for female companionship as George is today, as they would all be males! The clones would just be genetic ‘back ups”.
The Lonesome George story is for me both fascinating and encouraging and also very sad. We do not know what to do with him. George is very young. His age is estimated to be 80 years old, which for a Galapagos giant tortoise is not much since these majestic reptiles can live up to 150 years or more. There is still time, to avoid his probable, final and tragic extinction. Lonesome George is an emblem. A symbol of everything that is done to conserve this magical archipelago. The day that we manage to save this vanishing species will be a real triumph and one of the brightest days for conservation.
The most famous giant tortoise in the world is, by far, Lonesome George. This tortoise is the last living individual from Pinta Island. He was found on that island in 1972, and since then he has been kept in a special place at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS). The original hope was to begin a long term captive-breeding program for this race, once a female Pinta tortoise was found. To date no females, or “Georgettes”, or even any additional males have been located despite the great efforts made and the CDRS’ long standing offer of a ten thousand US dollars reward for the return of a Pinta female.
During the past decades the options of what could be done with George appeared to be extremely limited. One of these alternatives was to mate him to females of a race that was in size, shape and genetics, similar to him. The resulting offspring, after continuos back crossing and in succeeding generations would result in a form closely resembling George.
In today’s picture you can see George, between his two companions, closely related females from Volcano Wolf. It is sad, but George does not show any sexual interest in them. Concerned scientists suggested that George should be cloned to produce more Pinta tortoises. Even if cloning could be achieved, it would not be a suitable alternative. Yes, it would result in exact George replicas, but all of them will have the same problem. They would be as lonely for female companionship as George is today, as they would all be males! The clones would just be genetic ‘back ups”.
The Lonesome George story is for me both fascinating and encouraging and also very sad. We do not know what to do with him. George is very young. His age is estimated to be 80 years old, which for a Galapagos giant tortoise is not much since these majestic reptiles can live up to 150 years or more. There is still time, to avoid his probable, final and tragic extinction. Lonesome George is an emblem. A symbol of everything that is done to conserve this magical archipelago. The day that we manage to save this vanishing species will be a real triumph and one of the brightest days for conservation.
