Saturday, October 08, 2011

Pinta Island tortoise- World’s Rarest Species

Pinta Island tortoise

Pinta Island tortoise is the World’s rarest animal species. The scientific name for pinta island tortoise is Geochelone elephantopus abingdoni. It generally found in eastern pacific ocean.A small island measure just 60 sq km in area, Isla Pinta is residence to swallow-tailed gulls, marine iguanas, fur seals and a number of other birds and mammals.

The most northern island in the Galapagos, at single time Isla Pinta had a blooming tortoise population. However, over the years to due poaching of these calm giants by fishermen and whalers, the number of these kind of tortoises has diminished greatly. Today, Lonesome George (Pinta Island tortoise) is the last remaining subspecies of tortoise from Isla Pinta, and though many hard work have been made to breed him with other tortoises, but they have so far been unsuccessful.

No comments: