Hopeful George: Tortoise Might Not Be Lonesome Anymore

Please, John Tierney, say it isn’t so. In your New York Times blog Lonesome George Isn’t Looking So Lonesome you bring us the truly welcome news that Lonesome George, the Pinta Island tortoise from the Galapagos, may not be the last of his kind after all.

After analyzing the genes of 27 tortoises on another Galapagos island, Isabela, biologists discovered that one tortoise’s father was a Pinta tortoise — perhaps one who was removed from Pinta by some of the sailors who contributed to the decline of the species. Since there are between 2,000 and 7,000 tortoises on Isabela whose genes haven’t yet been analyzed, it seems likely that one or more will turn out to be purebred Pinta tortoises, according to Michael Russello of the University of British Columbia.

But then you tell us you’re worried about George’s celebrity, his ability to raise money for efforts to slow down the sixth great extinction underway. Crikey, mate. I can’t think of a better fundraiser. Let’s rename him Hopeful George and watch the pesos roll in. –JULIA WHITTY