
pinta island tortoise Lonesome George giant turtle Galápagos Ecuador Abingdon island Chelonoidis abingdonii recently extinct conservation biodiversity endemic species restoration
Pinta Island tortoise – is a species of Galápagos tortoise once native to Ecuador’s Pinta Island. The decline of the population began in the 17th century, due to buccaneers and whalers. They hunted tortoises as a source of fresh meat, and took away about 200,000 tortoises collectively. By the mid-20th century, the species was assumed to be extinct, until a single male was discovered on the island in 1971. He was named Lonesome George and died on 24 June 2012 – the species is believed to have become extinct with his death.
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