The Pinta Island Turtle: A Fascinating but Extinct Species

Deep in the heart of Ecuador's Galapagos Islands lies Pinta Island, home to a fascinating yet extinct species - the Pinta Island tortoise (Chelonoidis niger abingdonii). The knowledge of its existence was derived from short statements of the voyages of Captain James Colnett in 1798 and Basil Hall in 1822. The name abingdonii derives from Abingdon Island, now more commonly known as Pinta Island.

In 1877, German-born British herpetologist Albert Günther described the species for the first time in his book 'The Gigantic Land-tortoises (Living and Extinct) in the Collection of the British Museum.' The Galapagos tortoises remain the largest living tortoises, with giant tortoises once found on all continents except Australia and Antarctica.

One of the most famous Pinta Island tortoises was Lonesome George, who belonged to a species of 15 subspecies. Unfortunately, his subspecies is classified as extinct on the IUCN Red List. However, there is hope that some of these specimens may still be alive, as their parents might have survived.

In 2012, Yale University researchers reported 17 first-generation hybrids from Wolf Volcano on Isabela Island. This sparked efforts to mate Lonesome George with other subspecies, but unfortunately, no viable eggs resulted in the desired outcome.

Lonesome George died on June 24, 2012, which led experts to believe that the subspecies had become extinct with his passing. By the mid-20th century, most of the Pinta Island tortoises had been wiped out due to hunting. The subspecies was described by Albert Günther in 1877 after specimens arrived in London.

The Pinta Island tortoise, also known as the Pinta giant tortoise, Abingdon Island tortoise, or Abingdon Island giant tortoise, is an extinct subspecies of Galápagos tortoise native to Ecuador's Pinta Island. Its extinction serves as a reminder of the importance of conservation efforts and responsible wildlife management practices.

Overall, the Pinta Island turtle may be gone, but its fascinating story and unique characteristics continue to captivate scientists and nature enthusiasts alike.

Pinta island turtle