Lonesome George dies, last Pinta Island tortoise

[moneyshredderofdeath 414]

http://www.bbc.co.uk.../world-18574279

 

The Pinta Island tortoise had been a subspecies of Galapagos tortoise. I had heard about Lonesome George before and find this news pretty sad knowing an entire subspecies is now in the past.

[Shankveld 4,949]

Another one bites the dust ~

[Gummy 725]

Damn I wish he didnt die, those things look like theyd be fun to ride.

[Tom The Diamond 1,830]

Did they get a sample of his DNA? Maybe somehow along the line, future generations could use it to clone and revive the species. I thought they could do that now though... :L

[Senor Citizen 516]

I care about this why? Not even trying to be harsh. Just unsure how this affects me in any way.

[Nah 3,182]

Just shows how wasteful humans are, and we don't care until the last second, or when these creatures are gone.

[Tom The Diamond 1,830]

I care about this why? Not even trying to be harsh. Just unsure how this affects me in any way.

 

Well an entire species of animal has gone extinct.

 

Forver.

 

It will never return.

 

No one else will get to see it alive who haven't already.

 

Such a loss is kinda depressing.

[Senor Citizen 516]

Well an entire species of animal has gone extinct.

 

Forver.

 

It will never return.

 

No one else will get to see it alive who haven't already.

 

Such a loss is kinda depressing.

 

Enh. Cloning.

[Jadefire 2,797]

Enh. Cloning.

 

Cloning only works if there's a viable surrogate. Now that the subspecies is extinct, it may not be possible to clone them. Also, you're an ass.

[MVC NVMXD JVRXD 2,406]

Enh. Cloning.

 

Except that we can't clone things yet.

[Jadefire 2,797]

Except that we can't clone things yet.

 

Uh, yes we can, and we do it all the time. It's just difficult as hell, and require surrogate mothers of the same species.

[MVC NVMXD JVRXD 2,406]

Uh, yes we can, and we do it all the time. It's just difficult as hell, and require surrogate mothers of the same species.

 

Oh then comment withdrawn. But still, we can't clone that

[Twiliscael 3,960]

Awww. Why do we destroy everything? Poor George, may he rest in turtle heaven or wherever those little creatures go.

[Lady Rarity Pony 4,892]

Natural selection.

 

Climbing in yo species.

 

Snatchin' yo turtles up.

 

RAAAWR IT'S A TORTOISE.

[Slictz 110]

Natural selection.

 

Climbing in yo species.

 

Snatchin' yo turtles up.

 

RAAAWR IT'S A TORTOISE.

 

Not exactly. A lot of the tortoises belonging to Georges species actually became extinct because we humans introduced feral goats to the island where they lived. The goats devastated the local enviroment, with the food all but gone a lot of the species died by the lack of food available. The goats have now been removed, but sadly this species appears to be gone forever, making the attempt good, but in the end futile.

 

So in short; We're responsible for this species untimely demise.

[Evilshy 5,090]

He was most likely the last one. They found a few tortoises in the wild that were half his species, suggesting that there may still be at least one purebred Pinta Island Tortoise somewhere on the island.

[Ron Jeremy 2,032]

That's sad to hear. I think I'd read about said tortoise before, and it's sad to see a species die off like that, especially when it was largely human interaction that did it. Who knows, maybe in the future we'll be capable of turning genetic material into a living creature somehow, but it won't be the same, will it?

 

But, eh, species die, that's what happens. At least it's a subspecies, and not an entire species dying, right? I say dying because who knows, there might be another one wandering around out there. Unlikely, sure, but who knows?

Edited June 26, 2012 by Torneko Taroop