The giant tortoise Lonesome George was over 100 years old and was considered one of the last of its kind. Now the stately animal is to be embalmed and exhibited in a museum in Ecuador as a tourist attraction.
Lonesome George is embalmed – Image: Shutterstock / Sunshine Pics
In America, the giant tortoise Lonesome George became as well known as the polar bear Knut in Germany. The special thing about the animal that died in June 2012: It was over 100 years old and was initially considered the last of its kind, hence the name. However, numerous reproduction attempts failed, so that it was initially assumed that George, the last representative of the subspecies Chelonoidis abingdoni, had died. It is now known that at least 17 other animals of this species live in Ecuador.
Lonesome George is embalmed
The animal is now undergoing embalming in New York. The cumbersome process is likely to take around nine months. After that, Lonesome George will be sent back to Ecuador. There the giant tortoise will be on display in a museum on the Galápagos Islands.
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