RIP Lonesome George

**Bernard_Monsha** · June 26th, 2012, 07:20 AM

Last of his subspecies.

Quote:

Giant Tortoise ‘Lonesome George’ Dies in the Galapagos

The Pinta Island tortoise -- an eternal bachelor -- was the last member of a subspecies believed to date back some 10 million years

The world shed a tear when the news broke that “Lonesome George” — the last remaining giant tortoise of his kind — passed away in his enclosure in the Galapagos Islands on Sunday.

The 200-pound, 5-foot-long reptile was thought to be in the prime of his life — around 100 years old, which is not particularly old for a giant tortoise. Conservation officials in the Galapagos are conducting an autopsy to determine his cause of death, though they suspect he may have suffered a heart attack, reports AP.
George was the last remaining tortoise in his particular subspecies, Chelonoidis nigra abingdoni, which is believed to date back some 10 million years. The giant tortoises had evolved like many creatures on the isolated Galapagos archipelago to become large and trusting. That changed in the 19th century, when George’s subspecies and others were nearly wiped out by whalers and seal hunters looking for an easy meal

RecentMidget · June 26th, 2012, 07:54 AM

1: inb4 Forever Alone face is pasted on george.

2: You got my hopes up that Lucas died.

**Holy Knight** · June 26th, 2012, 11:15 AM

Darn shame.

Nature at work, though. I wonder how long until we're down to merely the species that humans like to live with?

superplough · June 26th, 2012, 11:21 AM

Awwwwww

Midoriko87 · June 26th, 2012, 11:32 AM

I remember watching a program about the Galapagos on Animal Planet years back, maybe The Jeff Corwin Experience or Crocodile Hunter, and whoever it was said that Darwin didn't pay as much attention to the tortoises as he did the other species. Ha, he and the seamen back then were eating the damned things.

It's always sad, imo, when these creatures that haven't evolved any defenses (due to living in these predator-free isolated environments) are negatively affected by humans and the changes they bring.

Reidar · June 26th, 2012, 12:14 PM

Plan went without a hitch. And he was delicious.

Old Ape Face · June 26th, 2012, 01:35 PM

Prepare the cloning, we have the technology we can rebuild him.

June 26th, 2012, 07:54 AM	#2
RecentMidget Herald of Friendship Join Date: May 2008 Location: WHY HALLOO THAR!!! Posts: 3,710	1: inb4 Forever Alone face is pasted on george. 2: You got my hopes up that Lucas died. __________________ I am my own lord... Of the Land of the Dead!!! Team Yukari=All Forums Are Belong To Us!!!! Join the awesome today!!!

June 26th, 2012, 11:15 AM	#3
Holy Knight The Vampiric Knight Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 6,254 Blog Entries: 4	Darn shame. Nature at work, though. I wonder how long until we're down to merely the species that humans like to live with? __________________ Young riders choose a destination. Old riders choose a direction. ~Proverb

June 26th, 2012, 11:21 AM	#4
superplough Zenkai Power Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Zealand Posts: 16,220 Blog Entries: 50	Awwwwww __________________ http://myanimelist.net/animelist/superplough

June 26th, 2012, 11:32 AM	#5
Midoriko87 Eugoogolizer Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Not the Gayest City in America Posts: 2,184	I remember watching a program about the Galapagos on Animal Planet years back, maybe The Jeff Corwin Experience or Crocodile Hunter, and whoever it was said that Darwin didn't pay as much attention to the tortoises as he did the other species. Ha, he and the seamen back then were eating the damned things. It's always sad, imo, when these creatures that haven't evolved any defenses (due to living in these predator-free isolated environments) are negatively affected by humans and the changes they bring. __________________ ♪You can say I'm Plain Jane but it's not the same I ain't into Big Names, but I like nice things♪ ~ City High, Caramel

June 26th, 2012, 01:35 PM	#7
Old Ape Face I'm a Sexy Atheist Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In the back of my mind where you can't see. Posts: 18,488 Blog Entries: 13	Prepare the cloning, we have the technology we can rebuild him. __________________ Well... I... Don't wanna be a Soldier Momma, I don't wanna die Well... I... Don't wanna be a Sailor Momma, I don't wanna fly Well... I... Don't wanna be a Failure Momma, I don't wanna cry Well... I... Don't wanna be a Soldier Momma, I don't wanna die

June 26th, 2012, 12:14 PM	#6
Reidar Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Posts: 2,459	Plan went without a hitch. And he was delicious.