Pinta Island tortoises go extinct with Lonesome George?s passing

Scientists tried and failed to preserve his genes in living animals; now the subspecies is gone forever

Lonesome George, the only known?Pinta Island tortoise in existence, passed away on June 24 at the?Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galapagos Islands. Scientists have tried to find George the perfect mate since he was discovered in 1971 in order to preserve his genes in living animals. But since there were no females in his subspecies???Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii ? the scientific community tasted several instances of almost-victories that ultimately led to defeat.

George was found lifeless near his watering hole by his caretaker and companion for the last 40 years, Edwin Naula. Naula believes that George, who was 100-years-old when he died, passed away due to heart failure brought about by old age. An autopsy will be performed to determine the official cause of death of what was known to be the rarest animal on Earth.

Pinta Island tortoises used to be abundant in the Galapagos Islands. Unfortunately, they were almost wiped out by sailors and pirates who hunted them in the 1800s and 1900s. After the hunting ceased, new animals introduced to the area overgrazed the lands until the tortoises lost their natural habitats.

George's death means only the?extinction of a subspecies ??a classification under species, which means other?Chelonoidis nigra tortoises still exist. But?San Diego Zoo ambassador Rick Schwartz believes his "passing is an opportunity for us to [show] humans our actions can have an impact on the future without seeing it in the moment."

[Image credit:?putneymark]

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This article was written by Mariella Moon and originally appeared on Tecca

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