The End of a Longliving Specie – 13 pics

A symbol of all dying species, Lonely George, a giant tortoise from Pinta Island, died on Sunday, which represents the sad the end of a longliving specie of Chelonoidis nigra Abingdon. Poor Lonely George was found dead, said the officials of Galapagos National Park. Scientists believe that the Lonely George, who died a few days ago, was the last living member of the subspecies Chelonoidis Nigra Abingdon, from the small island of Pinta. George was the Ambassador of Ecuador coast whose unique flora and fauna inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution.

1 / 13

2 / 13

3 / 13

4 / 13

5 / 13

6 / 13

The age of a tortoise was unknown, but scientists think that was about 100 years, not much for a giant turtle, which can live for much longer, that's why scientists believed George would live at least a couple of decades more. Many times, since 1972. when he was found, the females were brought to Lonely George, to prolong his subspecie, but these ventures were all unsuccessful. Lonely George was living at the center for breeding turtles in the archipelago of Santa Cruz, and on Sunday Fausto Llorena, who cared about him for years, found him dead. The Park officials said that they will investigate the cause of death. Giant tortoises of the Galapagos, Chelonoidis nigra, are generally killed after the arrival of humans on the island, but a recovery program which was conducted by the Charles Darwin Park Foundation, has led to the recovery of the population from 3,000 in 1974 to 20,000 today.

7 / 13

8 / 13

9 / 13

10 / 13

11 / 13

12 / 13

13 / 13