The Bachelor – Galapagos Style

Lonesome George, the Galapagos Island’s aging Pinta island tortoise, isn’t as lonesome as we think. 

George has been considered by many as the world’s rarest creature and a conservation icon.  He was thought to be the last of his kind after fishermen and pirates slaughtered his species for food.

Until recently, this famous island bachelor (suspected to be between 60-90 years old) had shown very little interest in reproducing.  However, after 36 years in captivity, he recently mated with one of his two female companions of a similar species of Galapagos tortoise.

According to a recent Reuters story, “Park rangers found a nest with several eggs in George’s pen and placed three in incubators. It will take about four months to know whether the eggs bear George’s offspring.  Even if these three eggs are fertile and the born tortoises survive it will take several (genetic) generations to think of having a Pinta purebred … even centuries," the park said in a statement.”

If  you want to see for yourself how things turn out…  O.A.R.S., the largest and most diverse whitewater river rafting company in the West, offers a variety of trips to the Galapagos:

Galapagos Kayaking Tours – Sea Kayak the Enchanted Islands

Galapagos MultiSport Adventure

Galapagos Expedition by Ship

Written by Tracy

Writer, Photographer, former Waterblogged Editor