Lonesome George, Galapagos Islands

© javarman3

The taxidermied remains of “Lonesome George,” the last Pinta Island giant tortoise, will go on display later this month at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.

After George was discovered on Pinta in 1972 scientists spent decades trying, without success, to get him to reproduce in captivity. Scientists believe that he was was over 100 years old when he died in June of 2012.

He will be on display at the museum from September 18th to the end of the year, when he will be returned to Ecuador.

There are eleven other sub species of giant tortoise still alive in the Galapagos Islands. Three other sub species, including George’s, are now extinct.