PINTA ISLAND TORTOISE (LONESOME GEORGE) - PART 2

Lonesome George lived for 41 years at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS) until his death, and the Pinta Island Tortoise Extinction on June 24, 2012 as I covered on the last post.

What's interesting is the debates and controversies that have taken place over Lonesome George since his death.

Debate 1 - Where to keep George on display?

George was sent to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City to be professionally mounted since he was an icon for extinct animals known world wide.
http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/lonesome-george
 Then during his return to the Galapagos to be put on display at the CDRS, the government of Ecuador decided they wanted to display Lonesome George in Quito, Ecuador's capital.  This is a debate that is still going on today.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-29319048

Debate #2 - Is the Pinta Island Tortoise really extinct?

Since Galapagos tortoises were captured as a food source by whalers, it is thought that they'd sometimes be thrown overboard or discarded on other Galapagos Islands if no longer needed.  Scientists did some DNA testing on a few tortoises found on Wolf Island in the Galapagos and found what seems to be a Pinta Island Tortoise hybrid (mix).  They are hoping that if they find the parents of these hybrids they can again locate another pure Pintie.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/11/121116-lonesome-george-not-extinct-galapagos-tortoise-science/
Next to poster of George in New York City




Additional Resources:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/06/120625-lonesome-george-tortoise-last-extinct-galapagos-science-animals/

http://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/lonesome-george

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