Lonesome George, the giant tortoise of the Galapagos Islands

Jun 25, 2012

Lonesome George, the giant tortoise who had become an unofficial ambassador for the Galapagos Islands, and friend of Amazing Journeys, passed away on Sunday at an estimated 100 years of age.  The Jurassic-looking creature had become a symbol of the islands scattered off the coast of Ecuador and is believed to be the last of his species, the Pinta tortoise.  Various mates had been provided for Lonesome George after he was found in 1972 in what proved to be unsuccessful attempts to keep his subspecies alive.
 
The pen where George lived was visited by thousands of tourists every year, who often had to scramble with each other to take pictures of one of the rarest creatures on Earth.  Around 180,000 people visit the islands every year to see animals up close and have their picture taken with the giant tortoise who became known as one of the rarest creatures on Earth. Amazing Journeyers have had the opportunity to visit him three times, twice in 2007 and once in 2010.