Museum to Preserve Lonesome George, in All His Lonesomeness, Forever

You probably remember the story of Lonesome George, the last known member of his species—the only Pinta Island tortoise alive for nearly thirty years. When he died in June 2012, Lonesome George was about 100 years old, and his story inspired people all over the world and even sparked a documentary series called The Loneliest Animals.

Now, Lonesome George will be preserved in his lonesomeness for all perpetuity. The American Museum of Natural History is preserving the tortoise to put on display. Here’s their video. (Warning, the video is more graphic than you might expect.)

Museum Helps Preserve Tortoise Lonesome George

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Lonesome George belongs to the country of Ecuador, but they’ve sent him over to the AMNH for taxidermy. At the museum, they’ve had to figure out what pose the tortoise should be in to show off his long neck and shell. Once they’re done, they’ll exhibit Lonesome George for a little while before he goes home to the Galapagos. There are no other Pinta Island tortoises preserved anywhere else in the world, so George will be alone forever. But at least he’ll be home.

More from Smithsonian.com:

Lonesome George Was Not Alone!
The Last of His Kind, Tortoise Lonesome George Dies, Leaving No Offspring

Rose Eveleth | | READ MORE

Rose Eveleth was a writer for Smart News and a producer/designer/ science writer/ animator based in Brooklyn. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Scientific American, Story Collider, TED-Ed and OnEarth.