Lonesome George, the last individual of the Chelonoidis abigdoni species, has died yesterday at the age of 100 - 120 years old. He was known as the rarest creature in the world. George served as a potent symbol for conservation efforts in the Galápagos Islands.

George was first seen on the island of Pinta on 1971 by Hungarian malacologist József Vágvölgyi. The island's vegetation had been devastated by introduced feral goats, and the indigenous C. Abingdoni population had been reduced to a single individual.

Relocated for his safety to the Charles Darwin Research Station, George was penned with two females of a different subspecies. Although eggs were produced, none hatched. The Pinta tortoise was pronounced functionally extinct as George was in captivity.

On 24 June 2012, Lonesome George died of unknown natural causes. The event marked the total extinction of his subspecies.