Chelonoidis abingdonii (Pinta Giant Tortoise)

[Melanie]

QUITO (Reuters) - Lonesome George, the last remaining giant tortoise of his kind, may soon be a father to the delight of conservationists.

Unhatched eggs have been found in his "bachelor" pen in the Galapagos Islands, his keepers said on Tuesday.

For decades, the last known Pinta island tortoise had shown little interest in reproducing. But at age 90, George is said to be in his sexual prime.

Galapagos tortoises were among the species Charles Darwin observed to formulate his theory of evolution in the 19th century.

Scientist have been trying to get George to mate since 1993, when they introduced two female tortoises of a different subspecies into his pen.

The Galapagos National Park said the five eggs found on Monday were "in perfect condition" and have been placed in an incubator.

"Now we have to wait for the incubation period of 120 days to find out whether they are fertile," it said in a statement.

The 198-pound (90-kg) George stunned conservationists last year by mating for the first time in the 36 years he has been in captivity. But the eggs laid by one of his female companions turned out to be infertile.

Tortoises were hunted for their meat by sailors and fishermen to the point of extinction, while their habitat has been eaten away by goats introduced from the mainland


Some 20,000 giant tortoises still live on the Galapagos.

(Reporting by Alexandra Valencia; writing by Eduardo Garcia, editing by Anthony Boadle)

[Melanie]

After the death of Lonesome George (on 24 June 2012) this subspecies is now extinct

www.chicagotribune.com/sns-rt-ecuador-tortoise-tv-pixl2e8ho4g7-20120624,0,4558768.story?page=1

[Deleted]

so, bye bye George

[Melanie]

I hope it were natural causes. It doesn't bear contemplating if a bastard would have killed him.

[Peter]

Sad...very sad and conservation icon and again a subspecies lost!

[Peter]

Press release
PR.RPU. P001.R01 - 2012-06-26 - No. No. 054

NECROPSY CONFIRMS NATURAL DEATH OF GEORGE
The results show that the iconic reptile have died because aging.

Yesterday at 11:30 was conducted the autopsy of the body of Lonesome George in a special area of the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS), with the present fiscal environment, to discover the cause of death of this giant land tortoise , the last of the species from Pinta Island (Chelonoidis abingdoni), who was found dead Sunday morning in his yard from the center of giant tortoise breeding in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island.

The body was kept in cold storage at a temperature of two degrees Celsius to prevent decomposition.

The autopsy was conducted by a team of scientists and technicians made by Marilyn Cruz, a veterinarian specializing in wildlife, Washington Tapia, Biologist specialist Galapagos reptiles, James Gibbs, biologist specializing in reptiles and scientific advisor to the GNP

Registered specialists and measures throughout the body, whose parts were checked thoroughly and found nothing abnormal. After opening the shell, all organs were inspected and did not find any abnormality, except that his liver had an unusual color, presumably typical of the age.

During three hours samples were taken from each organ and tissue for laboratory analysis. The conclusion is that the death was from natural causes, probably caused by aging.

With the death of the last survivor of the Pinta, Chelonoides abingdoni are reduced to 10 species of tortoises from the islands that are part of the protected area of ??the Galapagos National Park.

Fausto Llerena, the park ranger behind the turtle

Lonesome George was part of the life of Don Fausto, as we all know in the Galapagos. The ranger was one of the few who were in the expedition that found in 1971 in a remote part of the island Pinta, when it was believed that these turtles were extinct. Since then, Mr. Faust was always involved in the life of emblematic reptile. In 1982 became his caretaker, but beyond that, he formed a friendship between them beyond the bounds of reason, because from the first day the Lone Ranger, never was alone. Faust was always with him.

Faust enough into your yard to leave food or water bowl clean and quiet looking reptile, stretched to the height closest to the ranger's face and opened his mouth as if to speak. Faust could spend much time with Solitaire, including talking to him. At home, Don Fausto has a large collection of wooden replicas of Solitaire, carved by himself. These days Don Fausto carries in his shirt, on her chest, a black ribbon, symbolizing the loss of a turtle that the world was the last of his kind, but he was was a friend.

Historical data:
1971: An expedition of scientists and rangers are Lonesome George on Pinta island.
1972: It is moved to the Breeding Center of the GNP in Santa Cruz.
1982: Fausto Llerena is responsible for the care of turtles breeding center
1993: placed in the yard of the two female solo Chelonoides becki species, morphologically similar to George.
2008: For the first time after 15 years together, the turtles that share the yard with Lone spawn. That same year it was discovered that the eggs were infertile.
2009: Females lay eggs again, but again were infertile.
2011: Genetic analyzes reveal that the closest species to see Lonesome George is the Spanish island, so you change the Barnyard female reptile.
2012: The iconic turtle is found dead in his yard, at that ranger who nursed him so long.

The GNPS is preparing a tribute to Lonesome George, which display a photo exhibition of the reptile in his yard. Through social networks Facebook and Twitter the Galapagos National Park Service, has asked fans to send photos of Solitaire. The best photos will be put on display.

The body will be embalmed Lonesome George and displayed so that future generations know him. The exhibition will be presented in an interpretive center dedicated only for turtles, which will be built and will be named this turtle

Prepared by Galapagos National ParkPublic Relations Process
For more information, email as at: [e-mail]

Source: www.galapagospark.org/boletin.php?noticia=630

[Sebbe]

This is very sad news. Lonesome George was indeed a very iconic animal, and sort of an ambassador for species on the brink of extinction. Yet another unique creature which we failed to save

[Melanie]

Here is a message by Anders Rhodin, one of the world's leading tortoise experts:

www.iucnredlist.org/news/lonesome-george-farewell-from-a-friend

[Melanie]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-19112199

Giant tortoise death casts shadow over Galapagos Islands

[Melanie]

Genetic research on Galapagos tortoises

news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/11/121116-lonesome-george-not-extinct-galapagos-tortoise-science/

[Melanie]

The genetic legacy of Lonesome George survives: Giant tortoises with Pinta Island ancestry identified in Galápagos

www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000632071200434X

[Peter]

Edwards D.L., Benavides, E., Garrick, R.C., Gibbs, J.P., Russello, M.A. , Dion, K.B., Hyseni, C., Flannigan, J.P., Tapia W., & Caccone A. (2013). The genetic legacy of Lonesome George survives: Giant tortoises with Pinta Island ancestry identified in Galápagos. Biological Conservation 157: 225-228.

www.rcgarrick.org/uploads/Edwards_et_al_2013_BiolCons.pdf

Abstract
The death of Lonesome George, the last known purebred individual of Chelonoidis abingdoni native to Pinta Island, marked the extinction of one of 10 surviving giant tortoise species from the Galápagos Archipelago. Using a DNA reference dataset including historical C. abingdoni and >1600 living Volcano Wolf tortoise samples, a site on Isabela Island known to harbor hybrid tortoises, we discovered 17 individuals with ancestry in C. abingdoni. These animals belong to various hybrid categories, including possible first generation hybrids, and represent multiple, unrelated individuals. Their ages and relative abundance suggest that additional hybrids and conceivably purebred C. abingdoni individuals still occur on Volcano Wolf. Spatial analyses suggest locations where additional individuals with C. abingdoni ancestry are most likely to be recovered, consistent with historical records of human movement of tortoises. These results provide an opportunity for species recovery of Pinta Island tortoises using individuals with C. abingdoni ancestry.

[surroundx]

"Lonesome George, who was the last member of a now extinct species of Galapagos Islands tortoises, is making a pit stop at the American Museum of Natural History this fall.

The 100-year-old tortoise died in June 2012, but a team of more than 60 scientists spent two years preserving his body so his role as an icon of the conservation movement could continue.

George will be on view at the museum until Jan. 4, at which point he will return permanently to Ecuador."

Read more: www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140919/upper-west-side/giant-galapagos-tortoise-lonesome-george-visits-natural-history-museum

[argentavis]

Some nice photos of the stuffed Lonesome George are here: www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/lonesome-george-last-tortoise-his-kind-posthumous-display-nyc-180952833/?no-ist

[Sebbe]

Very nice to hear as I will be in New York in early December, will definitely try and get to the museum over the weekend.

[surroundx]

The Molecular Turn in Conservation: Genetics, Pristine Nature, and the Rediscovery of an Extinct Species of Galápagos Giant Tortoise

Abstract

Genetic science is an increasingly common tool in conservation management that is reshaping understandings of biodiversity and how best to “save” it. In the Galápagos Islands, genetic science has led to the rediscovery of a species of giant tortoise that by all accounts went extinct more than 150 years ago. This article uses the story of these tortoises to examine how one area of conservation genetics—reconstructions of evolutionary history, or phylogenetics—is contributing to a shift in the way pristine nature is understood and managed. Drawing on political ecologies and critical geographies of genetics, I trace the story of these tortoises, which are at the center of a conservation breeding and repatriation program aimed to “retortoise” an island with tortoises as genetically close to the original population as possible. I argue that genes are emerging objects of conservation that not only call forth new configurations of knowledge production but also open new possibilities for managing endangered natures. Tortoise “genome geographies” (Fujimura and Rajagopalan 2011; Nash 2013) that trace lineages to particular islands articulate two understandings of pristine nature at stake in ecological restoration: the bounded Cartesian space of islands that has long structured national park conservation and the purity of species lineages, which genetic technologies offer a new means for understanding and manipulating. Analyzing genes as objects of conservation opens a technical–scientific black box to critical analysis, placing new technologies for imagining pristine nature in a history of debate about conservation management.

Source: www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00045608.2014.960042#.VHv5KzGUfVE

[surroundx]

Jones, Jen. (2013). Lonesome George: The legacy. Testudo 7(5): 69-78.

[surroundx]

Reynolds, Robert P. and Marlow, Ronald W. (1983). Lonesome George, the Pinta Island tortoise: a case of limited alternatives. Noticias de Galapgos 37: 14-17.

[Melanie]

The official IUCN assessment has now changed to extinct

Scientific Name: Chelonoidis abingdonii
Species Authority: (Günther, 1877)
Common Name(s):
English – Pinta Giant Tortoise, Abingdon Island Tortoise
Spanish – Tortuga Gigante de Pinta
Synonym(s):
Chelonoidis nigra ssp. abingdoni (Günther, 1877) [orth. error]
Geochelone abingdonii (Günther, 1877)
Geochelone elephantopus ssp. abingdonii (Günther, 1877)
Geochelone nigra ssp. abingdonii (Günther, 1877)
Testudo abingdonii Günther, 1877
Testudo elephantopus ssp. abingdonii (Günther, 1877)
Taxonomic Source(s): TTWG [Turtle Taxonomy Working Group: van Dijk, P.P., Iverson, J.B., Rhodin, A.G.J., Shaffer, H.B. and Bour, R.]. 2014. Turtles of the world, 7th edition: annotated checklist of taxonomy, synonymy, distribution with maps, and conservation status. Chelonian Research Monographs 5(7): 000.329-479, doi:10.3854/crm.5.000.checklist.v7.2014.
Taxonomic Notes:

The previous Red List assessments for Galápagos tortoises treated the various allopatric island populations as subspecies of Chelonoidis nigra, as did several authors (Pritchard 1996; Caccone et al. 1999; Beheregaray et al. 2003; Fritz and Havas 2007; TTWG 2007, Rhodin et al. 2008). However, other authors have considered them as full species based on morphology (Bour 1980; Fritts 1983; Ernst and Barbour 1989) and more recently several researchers (Caccone et al. 2002; Russello et al. 2005, 2007; Poulakakis et al. 2008, 2012, 2015; Chiari et al. 2009) have treated most of them as full species based on congruent patterns of mitochondrial and nuclear variation. This elevated species-level taxonomy has been largely accepted by TTWG (2009, 2014) and TEWG (2015) for most phylogenetic lineages of Galápagos tortoises. This Red List assessment therefore now treats C. abingdonii as a full species, rather than retaining its previous subspecies ranking from earlier Red List assessments.

The name Testudo ephippium, athough widely applied to the Pinzón [Duncan Island] Tortoise in the past, was interpreted by Pritchard (1996) to possibly be based on a type specimen from Pinta, and therefore potentially a senior synonym of Testudo abingdonii, but this has not yet been determined genetically.
Assessment Information [top]
Red List Category & Criteria: Extinct ver 3.1
Year Published: 2016
Date Assessed: 2015-08-11
Assessor(s): Cayot, L.J., Gibbs, J.P., Tapia, W. & Caccone, A.
Reviewer(s): Rhodin, A.G.J. & van Dijk, P.P.
Contributor(s): IUCN Galapagos Tortoises Red Listing Workshop & Galapagos National Park Directorate
Facilitator/Compiler(s): van Dijk, P.P. & Rhodin, A.G.J.
Justification:
With the death of the last known Pinta Tortoise, Lonesome George (in captivity since 1972), on 24 June 2012, the species went extinct. Extensive surveys have failed to find other tortoises on Pinta or in any of the world’s zoos. Tortoises with up to 50% abingdonii genes have been reported from Volcán Wolf on northern Isabela, including first generation hybrids, but no pure individuals of abingdonii are known to exist (TEWG, 2015). This assessment incorporates contributions from the international workshop on Galápagos tortoises convened by the Galápagos National Park Directorate in July 2012.


Previously published Red List assessments:

1996 – Extinct in the Wild (EW) –
dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T9017A12951337.en

Geographic Range [top]
Range Description: Chelonoidis abingdonii occurred on Pinta [formerly Abingdon Island] in the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador. Pinta has a total surface area of 59.4 sq.km, of which 24.5 sq. km / 41% could potentially sustain tortoises (Gibbs, unpubl. data).
Countries occurrence:
Regionally extinct:
Ecuador (Galápagos)
Additional data:
♦ Upper elevation limit (metres): 650
Range Map: Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.
Population [top]
Population: Based on an estimated average density of one tortoise per hectare of suitable habitat, the pre-impact population was estimated to have been about 2,500 adults (Gibbs, unpubl. data). The Pinta Giant Tortoise was heavily exploited and its population collapsed in the middle of the 19th century, followed by significant collecting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and exploitation by local fishermen subsequently. The last surviving animal, Lonesome George, was collected from the wild in 1972 and transferred to the Government of Ecuador’s Tortoise Centre on Santa Cruz, where he died on 24 June 2012. No further animals have been found on Pinta despite extensive surveys (Pritchard 1996). During the final goat eradication project (1998-2003), park ranger activity covered the island and yielded no sign of tortoises. In 2008, the Galápagos National Park Directorate carried out the last massive search for tortoises, but only found a few tortoise shells at the bottom of crevices (Cayot 2014).
Additional data:
♦ Number of mature individuals: 0
Habitat and Ecology [top]
Habitat and Ecology: Chelonoidis abingdonii was a saddlebacked tortoise adapted for browsing on higher vegetation, in particular, low-hanging cactus pads. Pinta habitat, before its destruction by feral goats, was largely dry xeric brushland and grassland at lower elevations, with limited more mesic forest habitat at higher elevations. Opuntia cactus trees are dominant in much of the Arid and Transition Zones on the island and provide an important food resource for tortoises. Habitats are now recovering following goat eradication.
Systems: Terrestrial
Movement patterns: Not a Migrant
Use and Trade [top]
Use and Trade: Chelonoidis abingdonii was historically exploited in the 19th century by whalers and other mariners as on-board food supplies.
Threats [top]
Major Threat(s): Chelonoidis abingdonii was heavily exploited by whalers and other mariners in the 19th century as on-board food supplies, which severely depleted the population. By the 20th century, few tortoises remained and some exploitation continued by local fishermen. In addition, extensive deforestation by goats, introduced to Pinta in 1959, destroyed tortoise habitat (Pritchard 1996).
Conservation Actions [top]
Conservation Actions: Legislation and regulations: Chelonoidis abingdonii is protected under Ecuadorian national law. It has been included in Appendix I of CITES since 1975, prohibiting all forms of commercial international trade. The entirety of Pinta Island, and therefore 100% of this species’ native range, is protected as part of the Galapagos National Park.

Captive breeding attempts with Lonesome George, the last known individual of C. abingdonii, were undertaken off and on during the 40 years of his residence at the Government of Ecuador’s Tortoise Centre on Santa Cruz, but he never reproduced. Goats were eradicated from Pinta in 1999 (Campbell et al. 2004). Ecosystem restoration on Pinta needs to continue to secure its other biodiversity. For that reason in May 2010, thirty-nine sterilized adult tortoises of various hybrid origins were released on to Pinta to act as non-reproductive natural ecosystem engineers to initiate a more natural habitat restoration process (Hunter et al. 2013). An ongoing project to remove hybrid tortoises with partial Pinta ancestry from Volcán Wolf on Isabela to begin a captive breeding programme is underway. Their reproductive offspring will be released on to Pinta, followed by long-term monitoring of the population.

www.iucnredlist.org/details/9017/0

[Sebbe]

Chelonoidis abingdonii (Günther 1877)
(Modern, until 2012)
Pinta Giant Tortoise
Ecuador (Galápagos: Pinta)
Size: CL ca. 98 cm
Testudo ephippium Günther 1875:271 (partim, misidentified
type) [Charles Island (= Floreana) (in
error), Galápagos, Ecuador]
Testudo abingdonii Günther 1877:85 [Abingdon
Island (= Pinta), Galápagos, Ecuador], Testudo
elephantopus abingdonii, Geochelone abingdonii,
Geochelone elephantopus abingdonii,
Chelonoidis abingdonii, Chelonoidis elephantopus
abingdonii, Geochelone (Chelonoidis)
nigra abingdonii, Geochelone nigra abingdonii,
Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii, Chelonoidis
elephantopus abingdonii
Comment: This species was exposed to intense exploitation
by whalers in the early 1800s collecting animals as provisions
for their long Pacific voyages, with the last large loads
of tortoises from Pinta recorded as occurring between 1833
and 1848 (Townsend 1925; Pritchard 1996). From then until
1906, no more than a handful of animals were found, and
by 1957 only a few dead animals could be found trapped
in ravines and crevices (Snow 1964). The habitat had also
been severely degraded by introduced goats and intermittent
slaughter of a last few animals still occurred. However, one
last living male of this species, known as Lonesome George,
was found in the wild in 1971 and brought into captivity at
the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz in 1972
(Pritchard 1996). Though intensive efforts were made to
cross-breed him with closely related species for many years,
he died in captivity in June 2012 without siring any successful
offspring. However, a few animals with partial C. abingdonii
genotype hybridized with C. becki have been located
onVolcan Wolf on Isabela (Russello et al. 2007); evidently a
number of C. abingdonii were released there inadvertently
by whalers in the past, suggesting that the taxon may not yet
be fully extinct (Edwards et al. 2013). Some authorities treat
this taxon as a subspecies of C. nigra.

Turtle Extinctions Working Group et al. (2015). Turtles and Tortoises of the World During the Rise and Global Spread of Humanity: First Checklist and Review of Extinct Pleistocene and Holocene Chelonians. Chelonian Research Monographs No. 5: 1-66.