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HOPE scientists to see Lonesome George – a Galapagos giant tortoise, leaving the breeder ended when the animal was found dead in Puerto Ayora, Santa Cruz Island, Ecuador on June 24 last.
Puerto Ayora is located in the south of the Galapagos National Park.
It is estimated that over 100 years old, tortoise- ambassador of the Galapagos Islands tortoise status drew more than 180,000 tourists to visit the island last year.
George believed the last tortoise of the subspecies Geochelonenigra abingdoni. The island is still occupied about 20,000 pieces of a giant tortoise from 13 subspecies.
“In the morning when a ranger patrol, he found George dead in the center of a giant tortoise breeding.“turtle life has ended, but we plan to preserve the carcass for consumption as tourists in the future,” said the head of the park, Edwin Naula.
celebrity status of the animal carcasses placed in the a cold chamber to prevent decay. Scientists said the death of George will eliminate the species.
George has its own story. It was discovered in 1972 on the Island Friend, one of the islands in the Galapagos Islands.
As its name Lonesome George, the animal is living alone and lonely all his life.
George did not have children. Although it attempts to breed with two female tortoises of different species, the result is disappointing.
Hunted
In 2009, officials of Ecuador announced a two female tortoises who live with George has produced a total of five eggs. Unfortunately, all the eggs failed to hatch.
George live with the female tortoises from the becki Geochlone type since 1993.
The popularity of George reckoned even drew the famous icon Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt to visit the national parks. ” / p> Location where the tortoise lived also visited by thousands of tourists every year. They took the opportunity to pose with bizarre creatures on earth.
However, since the people coming to the island, the number of giant tortoises down significantly. It is often hunted for its meat and its natural habitat was also seized by a band of goats brought by the farmers.
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However, rescue efforts by the Galapagos National Park and the Charles Darwin Foundation to increase the population again the tortoise started successfully.
In general, the population of giant Galapagos tortoise rose from only 3,000 pieces in 1974 to 20,000 now.
In addition to giant tortoises, Islands Galapagos is also famous as home to many species of unique animals and plants.
scenery nature and habits of Galapagos tortoises can live to be 200 years has sparked the idea to the British scientist Charles Darwin to introduce the theory of evolution. ” / p> National Zoo Director, Dr. Mohamad Ngah, said efforts to ensure the giant tortoise is rather difficult to survive.
“In addition to health problems because of age, these animals are sensitive to given food.
“In addition, it is difficult to adapt to different environmental conditions than the wild,” he told Journal.
Obviously, the National Zoo also has a turtle Aldabran species of giant tortoises in the world’s second largest after the Galapagos species, but efforts to breed the animal is not easy.
“But that does not mean we will stop trying membiakkannya rather more scientific research needs to be done, “he.
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