Lonesome George, who was a Pinta Island Tortoise, died about two and a half years ago at the age of 102. He was the last known individual of his subspecies. For years before his death, scientists attempted to have Lonesome George mate with females of a similar genotype. All of these trials to create offspring of Lonesome George were unsuccessful.
After his death on June 24, 2012, Lonesome George was moved to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City where a taxidermist preserved him. He is now a part of the museum’s exhibit where he is on permanent display to the public. To this day, scientists are still searching for more purebred individuals like Lonesome George, which would prove that his subspecies still exists in the world today.
NPR's Skunk Bear presents "Lonesome George (A Musical Memorial)"
The American Museum of Natural History in New York City presents a short documentary of the preserving of Lonesome George.
