Lonesome George's Legacy Lives on

     Last night I introduced (or possibly reminded) you of the Chelonoidis nigra abingdonii bachelor Lonesome George, recently deceased. His story extends back to 1971, when Hungarian József Vágvölgyi discovered him on the island of Pinta; the single survivor of the indigenous population. 

Pinta, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador; picture source.

    As mentioned, the destruction of his species is very likely an anthropogenic effect caused by the introduction of invasive species and hunting. However humans have also kept him safe in captivity since his discovery at the Charles Darwin Research Station, Santa Cruz Island. His keeper, Fausto Llerena, and other conservationists have tried hard to rejuvenate his species in the past; bringing in two female tortoises of a different subspecies (Chelonoidis nigra becki), believed to be genetically closest to George. George produced two clutches of eggs over two years with one of the females; however all eggs failed to hatch and were deemed inviable. In 2011, two different females from the subspecies C. n. hoodensis were brought to the Research Station, and the Ecuadorean government even offered a $10,000 reward for a suitable female. 

Giant tortoise on-going conservation attempts at Pinta Island.

    Unfortunately it was announced on the 24th of June, 2012, that Lonesome George had been found dead by his keeper, likely as a result of heart failure as part of a natural life cycle. A necropsy confirmed he died of 'old age', and was to be embalmed and put on display, in what is presumably meant to be an inspiration for conservation work. Thus Lonesome George's subspecies was pronounced officially extinct (also here, reported on in many publications).

    However in the last few days a breakthrough has been announced: despite the death of Lonesome George, we may still be able to preserve the subspecies! This follows the news that George may not have been the last of his kind (although this is slightly ironic and depressing to know, following his death). It appears the genes of the subspecies have survived in several hybrids located on Isabella Island (nearby) - 17 tortoises have been identified as first or second generation Pinta hybrids (the former meaning one of the parents was entirely of the Pinta subspecies as George). Significantly, some of these hybrids are juveniles; this suggests some purebred individuals may still survive on Isabella at the site Volcano Wolf. The paper detailing the genetic tests and methods used to determine this is due to be published in the journal Biological Conservation.

    A follow-up expedition is planned for the Spring to search for one (or more) of these C. n. abingdonii purebreds, and to collect the first generation hybrids in the hope of propagating some of the remaining Pinta genes. 
My next post will take a more in-depth look at this new advance in the tale of Lonesome George, and will debate whether there really is any legitimate point to this research-saga, other than nostalgia from acquaintance with George.