A year ago the Lonesome George died

Lonesome George

Today is the first anniversary of lonesome George’s  death , however the haughty image of this turtle with his neck stretched and thin skin, is still present in the memory of those who knew him, and will remain so after the embalming.

The Directory of the Galapagos National Park (DPNG) indicated that due to the scientific relevance of George, his body was sent last March to the American Museum of Natural history, in the United States, for embalming it.

George belongs to the species Chelonoidis Abingdonii. It inhabited for 40 years in the Centre of breeding and reproduction in captivity, in the Santa Cruz island in Galapagos. The day of the death of the chelonian George this species became extinct.

The 73 year-old Ranger, Fausto Llerena Sanchez, who was in charge of taking care of  George for 40 years, ensures that he became the symbol of Galapagos since he was found on Pinta island in 1971.

“Scientists were saying that it was already extinct. And he appeared and we were able to rescue him. Then we realized that it was the only one. After attempts to achieve his reproduction, but it was not possible”, says Llerena, who adds that for that reason his image”impressive and at the same time warm”will continue in Galapagos.

Edwin Naula, official of the DPNG indicates that the body of George will remain in a center of interpretation of the Galapagos tortoises.

Scientists from various parts of the world and the DNPG has hopes of recovering the species, for which remain stored, for study and experimentation, genetic material from Lonesome George.