Kingston Images

Show Navigation

Image 1 of 1

JK1_2482-221213.jpg

Add to Lightbox Download
The illuminated preserved body of Lonesome George, the last known Pinta Island tortoise (Chelonoidis niger abingdonii), stands as a poignant memorial in a darkened exhibition hall as visitors gather at the viewing window overlooking the Galápagos landscape. Discovered in 1971 and transferred to the Charles Darwin Research Station, this iconic tortoise became a powerful global symbol of extinction after he died in 2012 at over 100 years old, despite decades of conservation efforts. Recent genomic studies of Lonesome George's DNA have revealed remarkable adaptations including enhanced immune function, efficient DNA repair mechanisms, and tumor-suppressing genes that offer valuable scientific insights into longevity and disease resistance in giant tortoises.
Copyright
Jonathan Kingston
Image Size
7100x4733 / 13.8MB
http://www.kingstonimages.com
Contained in galleries
Science Revealed | Making Wonder Visible
The illuminated preserved body of Lonesome George, the last known Pinta Island tortoise (Chelonoidis niger abingdonii), stands as a poignant memorial in a darkened exhibition hall as visitors gather at the viewing window overlooking the Galápagos landscape. Discovered in 1971 and transferred to the Charles Darwin Research Station, this iconic tortoise became a powerful global symbol of extinction after he died in 2012 at over 100 years old, despite decades of conservation efforts. Recent genomic studies of Lonesome George's DNA have revealed remarkable adaptations including enhanced immune function, efficient DNA repair mechanisms, and tumor-suppressing genes that offer valuable scientific insights into longevity and disease resistance in giant tortoises.