Lonesome George-last of Its Kind Dies

Estimated to be around 100 years old, famously known as Lonesome George, residing in Galapagos National Park -  the last remaining tortoise of it’s kind died on sunday for unknown reasons.

Found in 1972, Lonesome George became the tourist attraction of Ecuador’s Galapagos Island, which attracted nearly 180,000 visitors last year.

George was last member of a species of giant tortoises from La Pinta. The Giant Galapagos tortoises are said to live upto 200 years and were among the species that helped Charles Darwin to formulate his theory.

Plan are being carried out to embalm George’s body so that it can be put up in the National park for visitors.

Scientists have tried to get George mate with other tortoises. The female tortoises laid eggs but they were infertile.

Around 20,000 giant tortoises  live in Galapagos. Tortoises are hunted by fisherman for their meat, now they are on the verge of extinction.

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)