With the death of Lonesome George Galapagos species not extinct, study reveals.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jes�s.

With the death of Lonesome George Galapagos species not extinct, study reveals.

The death five months ago of Lonesome George, a giant tortoise from the Galapagos Islands, did not extinguish their species as previously thought, according to a study that found that copy genes in 17 individuals, said Wednesday the Ecuadorian nature reserve. 

The death of chelonian on 24 June "does not represent the end of the species of giant tortoises (Chelonoidis abingdonii) of the Pinta Island," where George was from, said the Directorate of the Galapagos National Park (DNPG) in a statement.

 According to the report, an investigation along with the American University of Yale "demonstrates the existence of 17 tortoises from Pinta ancestry, which inhabit the Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island."

 "The study identified nine females, three males and five young genes of the species of giant tortoise from Pinta, after analyzing more than 1,600 samples collected in 2008 in the Wolf volcano," said the DNPG. 

According to the researchers, the "discovery marks the first step toward recovery of the species Chelonidis abingdonii, through a program of captive breeding and rearing, that option is evaluated by the Galapagos National Park."

George, a century-old tortoise, was considered the last representative of his species, and his death by natural causes occurred after decades of scientific efforts to achieve reproduction.

Diario ElComercio Ecuador

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Lonesome George the last of the Galapagos Geochelone abigdoni species died.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesùs.

Lonesome George the last of the Galapagos Geochelone abigdoni species died.

Sad day in our Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, Lonesome George the last  Galapagos Geochelone abigdoni species died at 100 years old.

He lived in La Pinta Island part of the group of islands which make the Galapagos Islands.

The Galapagos National Park director, Edwin Naula, reported that the turtle morning dead in his yard. His caretaker, Fausto Llerena, found him still warm, but lifeless.

 So far, performed the analysis of the remains of Lonesome George, so named because there was no copy of his subspecies. We attempted to mate with the islands of Isabela tortoises, they even lay eggs.

 However, the eggs were not viable and there were no descendants of George, whose age was estimated on 100. Naula estimated that the death was due to a stoppage of the heart, typical of the turtle and would have completed its life cycle. However, wait until the results of the autopsy to officially determine what caused the death. Naula reports that, until Saturday night, George was in good condition. 

George failed to find in 35 years that a female mate, and his last hopes rested on some miracle of science, which did not occur. Even a multinational team led by researchers at Yale University identified a tortoise that had half of their genes in common with George, as reported in the journal Current Biology. The researchers expected that new genetic tests could find a genetically pure Pinta tortoise among the 2 000 who live in Isabela, and thus begin a breeding program with Lonesome George. 

There was no success in these efforts to perpetuate the descendants of George, who was part of Guiness book as planet's unique animal. He refused to mate with females of other subspecies, and when at last he succeeded, the eggs were not fertile. George was six feet long and weighed 88 kilos. It was the last pure specimen of the species Geochelone abingdoni. Four of the 14 species of giant tortoises of the Galapagos Islands, which helped Charles Darwin develop his theory of natural selection have become extinct in recent decades because of hunting and competition for food that suffered by hundreds of goats introduced there in the early 50's. 

The Lonesome George was found on Pinta island in 1972, when it was believed that the species of turtles on this island was totally extinct. Since then the turtle has been part of captive breeding program of the Galapagos National Park Service. Edwin Naula, director of Galapagos National Park, said that by July this year, has planned an international workshop to develop the management strategy of turtle populations in the next ten years in order to achieve restoration. "The workshop will be held in honor of Lonesome George".


(His body will be stuffed for display)

Source: ElComercio Ecuador and ElUniverso Ecuador

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