Pinta Island Tortoise Might Escape Extinction

PINTA ISLAND, ECUADOR (GaeaTimes.com)- Lonesome George tortoise which is at the verge of extinction is soon to meet it’s female partner. Reportedly, the wildlife researchers are looking out for female Pinta Island tortoise and have already announced a $10,000 reward for anyone who can help them cite the female Pinta Island tortoise.

The wildlife researchers are trying their best to save the Pinta Island tortoise from extinction but all efforts to save the rare species has failed to show any inspiring results. As a matter of fact, Lonesome George who is presumed to be between 60 to 90 years of age, is the only surviving individual of the Pinta Island tortoise. Lonesome George is one out of a total number of eleven extinct subspecies of the Galapagos tortoise. Lonesome George has been tagged as the rarest creature who was named after a very popular character portrayed by American actor George Gobel.

American biologist Joseph Vagvolgyi had discovered the Pinta Island tortoise way back in the year of 1971. Since then Lonesome George has been shifted permanently to Charles Darwin Research Station where all efforts to reproduce the species have failed. The Pinta Island tortoise was penned with tortoises of different species but the eggs never hatched. What’s inspiring is that the Pinta Island tortoise is now 90 years old and is free from any disease or any kind of health problems. Following a DNA sequence analysis that was conducted way back in the year of 2007, the researchers had declared that there is a high chance that other members of Geochelone nigra abingdoni species might exist in the Galapagos Islands. If the researchers are able to discover a female Pinta Island tortoise then the species can reproduce and overcome the pangs of extinction.