We May See More “Lonesome” Turtles as Many Species Face Extinction

News of Lonesome George’s death on June 24th was tragic, not only because it marked the loss of this renowned creature who was beloved the world over, but also because George was the very last of his species.  When George died, the Pinta Island tortoise officially went extinct. 

In an article posted on Wednesday by The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) on National Geographic’s News Watch, the authors point to the loss of George and his kind as part of an alarming trend among turtle species worldwide.  They cite studies that indicate that the international trade of wild-caught turtles is the driving force behind more than half the world’s turtle species facing extinction.  They note that “on a percentage basis, turtles as a group are now more at risk of extinction than birds, mammals, or amphibians.”

Click here to link to the article, where you can find out more about the threats to turtles and what organizations like WCS are doing to help.  (Photo credit: Mark Putney)