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News: “Lonesome George” offers new hope for Galapagos giant tortoise
A much-revered Galapagos Islands resident, the giant tortoise “Lonesome George” was thought to be the last of his kind. That this conservation icon might soon produce offspring has created as much buzz in the naturalist world as Brad and Angelina’s offspring have in Hollywood. The importance of the impending event reaches back to Charles Darwin who was the first to notice distinctions among tortoises from different islands in the Galápagos, further advancing his theory of evolution.
Found in 1972 on Pinta island, George is estimated to be in his 70s—middle age for a giant tortoise. The Galapagos National Park recently announced that a female tortoise, keeping company with George since 1993, has laid three intact eggs presently being cared for in an artificial incubator. The female belongs to the closest existing phenotype to that of George. It will take about four months to know precisely whether the eggs bear George’s offspring. Considered by many to be the world’s rarest creature, George has given us new hope!
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The exciting news about the discovery of eggs in Lonesome George’s enclosure at the Charles Darwin Research Station just keeps getting better. Eight more eggs have been found in a nest created by the second female in Lonesome George’s pen. The Galapagos Conservancy is delighted at the prospect of George becoming a father.
I find it sad that i can not find any accounts signifieing these eggs ever hatched or were fertile.
Hi Tiarra,
It will take about four months to know precisely whether the eggs bear George’s offspring. Considering that the eggs were found in late July, we’ll only know more in late November.