Extinct Giant Tortoise May Still Be Alive in Galapagos

nikki81 · 09-01-2012, 10:09 PM

found this

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/20...nd/#more-91806

bradley g · 09-01-2012, 11:04 PM

Thats so interesting , it will be good if they can bread them successfully.

**egyptiandan64** · 09-01-2012, 11:11 PM

Very cool

But really seeing as they didn't find what they consider a pure individual in 1,600 tortoises. The chances of there being any pure individuals left is slim and there definately aren't 40 left.
I listened to a talk by Peter Pritchard 2 years ago as he was part of the team that went and collected DNA samples of all these tortoises. He photographed what he considered a pure or almost pure Abingdon island (Lonesome George's island) female during the trip. So there might be hope for a few species.

Supposedly there were quite a few tortoises and from quite a few islands that were dumped over-board in Banks Bay about 1814. This happened to lighten the load of 3 British whaling ships that were suprised by a couple of American ships. So any pure tortoise not native to that part of the island would have to be over 200 years old. It's probably possible, but not really likely.

Danny

Kirkie · 09-01-2012, 11:48 PM

Gravid females amongst the relocated tortoises perhaps?*

**egyptiandan64** · 09-01-2012, 11:55 PM

Now thats possible Dave

Danny

Kirkie · 10-01-2012, 12:04 AM

Would be nice.

Henry Nicholls book does say that most of the tortoises collected by whalers were females simply because they were easier to carry than the big males.

EJ · 10-01-2012, 12:08 AM

The Canary islands are pretty populated islands. A friend of mine got to work on a project on Gomera. They found this lizard about 10 years ago... a cat drug it in. They ended up finding 11 animals of this new species... today they've discovered that it is quite common in the habitat it occupies.

The point... until they can cover every inch of that island... there is still a chance.

Kirkie · 10-01-2012, 12:41 AM

Exactly. Peter Pritchard was en route to Pinta when they found Lonesome George. Except PP was looking for a tortoise he'd seen in a photo. A smaller tortoise than George. So there could have been a female Pinta tortoise alive. Unfortunately they found only the remains. Someone had eaten it.

TortBabe · 10-01-2012, 08:51 AM

Fascinating read

anna m · 10-01-2012, 11:27 AM

What a shame people have been eating them.

09-01-2012, 10:09 PM	#1
nikki81 Member Hatched Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Manchester,uk Posts: 363	Extinct Giant Tortoise May Still Be Alive in Galapagos found this http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/20...nd/#more-91806 __________________ http://www.flickr.com/photos/turtlenikki/ 0.2.0 Red Foots george and freda 1.0.0 Rusty dog R.I.P 0.1.0 Mice R.I.P gus gus 0.1.0 guinea pig piglet

09-01-2012, 11:11 PM	#3
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Very cool But really seeing as they didn't find what they consider a pure individual in 1,600 tortoises. The chances of there being any pure individuals left is slim and there definately aren't 40 left. I listened to a talk by Peter Pritchard 2 years ago as he was part of the team that went and collected DNA samples of all these tortoises. He photographed what he considered a pure or almost pure Abingdon island (Lonesome George's island) female during the trip. So there might be hope for a few species. Supposedly there were quite a few tortoises and from quite a few islands that were dumped over-board in Banks Bay about 1814. This happened to lighten the load of 3 British whaling ships that were suprised by a couple of American ships. So any pure tortoise not native to that part of the island would have to be over 200 years old. It's probably possible, but not really likely. Danny __________________

09-01-2012, 11:55 PM	#5
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Now thats possible Dave Danny __________________

10-01-2012, 12:08 AM	#7
EJ Senior Member Adult Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 8,277	The Canary islands are pretty populated islands. A friend of mine got to work on a project on Gomera. They found this lizard about 10 years ago... a cat drug it in. They ended up finding 11 animals of this new species... today they've discovered that it is quite common in the habitat it occupies. The point... until they can cover every inch of that island... there is still a chance. __________________ Ed Tortoise Keerpers @ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Tortoise_Keepers and http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/284442591651347/ Trying to keep the fun in Chelonian care

10-01-2012, 08:51 AM	#9
TortBabe Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 6,919	Fascinating read __________________ Busy Mum to ~ 2 Kids, 2 Yorkies, 1 Horsfield, 6 Hermanns, 2 Iberas, 6 Tunisians, 2 Indian Stars and 2 Pancakes

09-01-2012, 11:04 PM	#2
bradley g Member Egg Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: liverpool Posts: 79	Thats so interesting , it will be good if they can bread them successfully.

09-01-2012, 11:48 PM	#4
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	Gravid females amongst the relocated tortoises perhaps?*

10-01-2012, 12:04 AM	#6
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	Would be nice. Henry Nicholls book does say that most of the tortoises collected by whalers were females simply because they were easier to carry than the big males.

10-01-2012, 12:41 AM	#8
Kirkie Senior Member Adult Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 4,887	Exactly. Peter Pritchard was en route to Pinta when they found Lonesome George. Except PP was looking for a tortoise he'd seen in a photo. A smaller tortoise than George. So there could have been a female Pinta tortoise alive. Unfortunately they found only the remains. Someone had eaten it.

10-01-2012, 11:27 AM	#10
anna m Senior Member Adult Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 4,091	What a shame people have been eating them. __________________ One by one the Penquins steal my sanity

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