Preserving Lonesome George

Museum scientists and a master taxidermist describe the painstaking process-part art, part science--of preserving Lonesome George, the famous Pinta Island tortoise who died in 2012 in the Galapagos Islands. As the last known survivor of the tortoise species Chelonoidis abingdoni, Lonesome George served as a global icon of conservation-and a reminder of the urgent need to address ever-increasing extinctions. After a limited time on view at the Museum Lonesome George returns to Ecuador as part of that nation’s patrimony.
#LonesomeGeorge #taxidermy #GalapagosIslands #gianttortoise
The Lonesome George exhibit is on view in the Astor Turret on the Museum's fourth floor from September 19, 2014, through January 4, 2015. Learn more about the exhibition: www.amnh.org/ex...
VIDEO CREDITS
MUSIC
“Indigo” by Guillermo De La Barreda, Tomas Jacobi, and Nicholas Berry/
Warner Chappell Production Music
“Early Fog Lifter” by Ken Lewis, Scott Dente and Matt Stanfield/
Warner Chappell Production Music
“Viaje Por Carretera” by Alex Wilson/
Warner Chappell Production Music
“Moving South” by Alexander Salter/
Warner Chappell Production Music
TITLE SEQUENCE
Alberto Ludena
ILLUSTRATIONS
George A. Dante, Jr.
Roelant Savery
PHOTOGRAPHY
AMNH/C. Chesek
AMNH/D. Finnin
AMNH/R. Mickens
Ole Hamann
Alizon Llerena
Pete Oxford/Minden Pictures/Corbis
Galapagos Conservancy
Galapagos National Park
James Gibbs
Charles Shelby
VIDEO
AMNH/J. Bauerle
AMNH/E. Chapman
AMNH/L. Stevens
Galapagos Digital.com/Miguel Alvear
EXHIBITION
Lonesome George is presented in collaboration with the Galapagos National Park Directorate and Galapagos Conservancy.
SPANISH TRANSLATION
Courtesy of Cecilia Alvear
This video and all media incorporated herein (including text, images, and audio) are the property of the American Museum of Natural History or its licensors, all rights reserved. The Museum has made this video available for your personal, educational use. You may not use this video, or any part of it, for commercial purposes, nor may you reproduce, distribute, publish, prepare derivative works from, or publicly display it without the prior written consent of the Museum.
© American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY

[@jaydeflayme2890]

And yo gotta think, George probably never knew why he was so important. Animals have no concept of extinction or conservation. All he knew was that he had a lot of people who took great care of him.

[@RU-zm7wj]

Well...humans DID kill all his relatives. And they are working on the other island tortoises as well, as they are all under tremendous pressure. They are decreasing in numbers, not increasing, remember.

[@technerdbird]

@@RU-zm7wj did you hear about diego the tortoise, who increase his species' population 60x? their number are indeed increasing

[@RU-zm7wj]

@@technerdbird There are many islands, many species, numbers are at dangerously low levels. If some tortoises have been born on one island, that's good.

[@technerdbird]

@@RU-zm7wj i was using that as an example.. the consevation efforts are working, so far most captive breeding efforts have been successful. better than nothing

[@RU-zm7wj]

@@technerdbird You have a positive point; a way to go yet, though, I'm afraid.

[@monke2229]

He's been dead since 2012`????????? I thought he was alive all this time :((

[@maksimmarkovic8105]

Same

[@sinifexxephinis4310]

Ditto

[@insertcoolnamehere937]

Reality can be disappointing

[@alienbeef-gravy493]

Me too, I'm about to cry

[@nothumanz]

This video came out 6 years ago

[@oh-gingersnap]

I got the chance to see him in his taxidermized form and the tortoise breeding center around 4 years ago while I was in The Galapagos. It was incredible just how huge he was and how real and alive he looked. Photos could never do the justice of really seeing him. The people I met while on each island were incredible and so passionate about continuous conservation of the ecosystem that is becoming more and more tainted by tourists, pollution, and illegal fishing. I wish to go back someday if visitors are still allowed.

[@genericusername4206]

very nice

[@teawrecks1243]

0:31 that size difference tho. she was like "NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE"

[@technophant]

Such a long thick neck....

[@IGot7RevtinyArmyStayOnceBlink]

🤣 I was literally thinking she was probably scared for her life. She was moving quick as well.

[@YataTheFifteenth]

"DUDE IT AIN'T GONNA FIT"

[@oDM0o]

She's moving away as fast as she can lmao

[@G3T_TH3_B3LT]

It said he wasn't interested in any of them but ok

[@thuzan117]

RIP lonesome george

[@dgodfrey8751]

ahhh:(

[@gmont28]

I will always miss him

[@somerandomcringeboi1.026]

thuzan117 Gone but not forgotten

[@Memessssss]

would be cool to see dem come back

[@fishtales2597]

Maybe Lonesome George was infertile, either way we have lost the most iconic symbol of nature the world will ever have. Rip Gorgeous George you we're literally one of a kind.

[@Beatles__]

Fish Tales gorgeous george was a wrestler

[@franssantos9417]

He was gay

[@diegomedina9637]

Mojjo M, Trust me they can still try... Alot... I've seen some stuff guys.

[@milofinn1910]

Mojjo M Try it for yourself in a few decades.

[@alessandrajaure9352]

The video said they tried to breed him but he was never interested in any of the potential mates.

[@nerdykid2586]

I tear whenever I hear about George's death. RIP buddy

[@VMKAROUND365]

Why tortoise deaths are always sad. The kungfu panda scene still makes me 😞 sad

[@koconut12]

Crying right now honestly. Incredibly sad loss.

[@kanon1118]

Boo freaking hoo. What about the starving children in africa?

[@firemangan2731]

@@kanon1118 This guy is just expressing his respect to George, oh my god 🤦🏻‍♂️ If you’re so concerned about the children of Africa, then why don’t you do something about it instead of lying on your comfy bed and watch KZbin.

[@kanon1118]

@@firemangan2731 becasue i'm not concerned, I was one of those childrens in africa well not exactly what i mean to say is i was in that situation, never felt sorry for myself at all and i got myself through it.

[@yeah89347]

I love it when turtles or tortoises have such simple names like Jonathan or George, I have my own turtle named Timmy. I think it's just so adorable. RIP Lonesome George, you're probably the most beautiful tortoise I've ever seen :)

[@reggie8370]

I've heard of lonesome George as a young child in love with animals and science... Goodbye sweet Legend. An Icon for conservation.

[@susannah8342]

I did too. It was on a program called The Deep, which was a kids cartoon show about a family of underwater explorers and in one episode it's about Lonesome George. It's currently on Netflix and was seriously great to watch.

[@cindywells9119]

I was fortunate enough to meet Lonesome George during the mid-80s. My trip to the Galapagos during my teenage years was absolutely the trip of a lifetime, and although I often wish that I could go back, it saddens me that tourism and global warming have changed it irrevocably.

[@psychlyeslg]

My parents: Asking when will I marry Me: *Knows that the family name dies with me*

[@maybeasofa]

Omg- 🤯

[@mossbaby01]

😂 poor dude

[@andyhaochizhang]

At least the family's genes, which are actually important, are probably not dying with you.

[@IGot7RevtinyArmyStayOnceBlink]

Lmao well damn that took a dark turn... I mean hey you never know.

[@meowzAcatt]

@@andyhaochizhang "which are actually important" sir/ma'am/anything in between are you saying this person is unimportant-

[@twosdaybear]

The Galapagos tortoise is making a comeback and I hope George knows he brought a lot of attention to his kind and because of it, people are doing everything to protect the species ❤️

[@Mithreniel]

That is great news! =D

[@Mooffgamesgamer]

Pinta Island Tortoises are extinct, and George is the last member of his kind.I think you are getting species mixed up here.

[@BigJFindAWay]

@@Mooffgamesgamer Correction. Pure blooded Pinta Island tortioses are extinct, but theyve found mixed race tortioses with Pinta genes and they are breeding them back to get to as close to pure blooded Pinta as possible. Same with Floreana Island tortioses. They may never ben 100 percent but 90 percent or so is pretty darn good and needs to be done. That way the genes carry on and then who knows what can develop from there?

[@Mooffgamesgamer]

@@BigJFindAWay what about the other 2 extinct species? Hopefully the Fernandina Species will not end up becoming extinct as well.

[@BigJFindAWay]

@@Mooffgamesgamer Thank God we found them and have a chance to increase their numbers.

[@boarbot7829]

This is tragic. I can’t be the only one who thought this meant preserving his life.

[@waltersobchak7275]

Yep now I’m turning this off

[@drnarwhal2888]

Put George's brain in a robot body and give him rocket launchers built into his shell so he'll be badass

[@grizzlemarine2389]

@@drnarwhal2888 YES

[@bonithechubbypotato5100]

@@drnarwhal2888 HECK YEAH

[@kritikajaishriradhey]

@Boarbot 78 You're not the only one. I clicked the video only because I thought they would show how they took care of him or something.

[@chubbykitten4525]

He's giving me master ugway vibes.

[@Pogokoala]

damn i shed a tear, i met George back in 2010 I visit the Island because my Mother is from Ecuador and it was our first time visiting the island. George was alone very true, but many like myself was able to meet and greet, with George and the care taker as well. People did try to see if George can get with any of the other turtle from what they told us, but not a single luck even george wasn't into the other turtle, his been the last of his kind for almost 100yrs already. Animals are beautiful and live is valuable. I'm happy they were able to preserve george just the way i remember him. and it hit me when the narrator says "a piece of organism that no longer walks the earth" that was a sad touch. well I hope some day I can visit NY just to visit George. RIP George.

[@1whospeaks]

Love how the artist explained his struggle with scientific work. What he's doing is most important work, but it's also sad, because it's not a reflection of human creativity like usual art, but of our mistakes. I don't think there's any better team, this work is vital, thank you.

[@jacobwood3032]

Welcome to the people who just got this on their recommended.

[@athendavis100]

Hah

[@ravageone7794]

Hey

[@the_reptilian_researcher_360]

Thank you.

[@finaaaaaaaaa2095]

hullo :3

[@williamsnekspeare3090]

Oh hi lmao

[@karengreco2137]

George Dante was my next door neighbor and was an amazing artist when he was a child. Glad to see he was able to complete this amazing project. Congratulations to you George.

[@DailyDoseOut]

Thanks everyone who helped take care of LG before and after his death. R.I.P may you find lots of female shell in turtle heaven.

[@wisewarnanazara317]

72 to be exact

[@gametiger9050]

kajol devgan AHAHAHAJAJAHAHAKAAHHAAH

[@samewish]

Jeffrey Goff Nope, he interest lots of male shell.

[@kavinremo]

Wisewarna Nazara, 72 juicy virgins....Lol. arabic FairyTales' scriptures.

[@koldblaze6610]

My Own Will NEVER god's Will it literally doesn’t say that anywhere in Islam LMFAO

[@apolloravindran]

Only death brings perspective to life itself, what a sad story

[@pattymullin8515]

I am so thrilled to see this beautiful sculpture and even more thrilled to know he is back in Ecuador. I had the great honor of meeting Lonesome George at the Charles Darwin Station in the 1980s. Upon seeing him, in that first moment, i was in complete awe, if not shock. He took my breath away - he was absolutely magnificent. LG possessed a sense of graneur and dignity about him. For me, it was love at first sight. I have always adored tortoises and currently have a Russian tortoise named Clyde. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about LG as I interact with Clyde, which is a lot. What an unforgettable and rare priviledge it was to have met Lonesome George. Love 'ya, LG.

[@andreaecheverria6953]

Ecuadorian primary schools have this tradition of having a field trip to Galápagos when you finish your last year of school. I had the pleasure of seeing LG alive when I was a kid.. what a wonderful, incredible animal. I saw his taxidermy on Galapagos again this year. It's quite a view.

[@dabeast987]

I was lucky enough to see lonesome George in person before he had died. I feel blessed to have been able to do so

[@holdmysprite6056]

Why did this just show up on my recommendations-

[@brewsutoba]

george is no longer alone, he's got the internet with him

[@emilyglass3187]

I recall my mother being upset about lonesome George when he passed. Of course, I was too young to understand who he was.

[@sgoddard638]

I remember hearing when he died. I was devastated that the species couldn't be saved. So sad.

[@abdilmalik9749]

"One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it" - master oogway

[@lilianatrejo3309]

he was so cute😭😭😭😭😭

[@boyubao5859]

Thank You George For Preventing The Galapagos Extinction

[@broccodoggo8363]

R.I.P George he didn't get the smash

[@diegomedina9637]

Jawny Gash, he did, he was just shooting blanks

[@EC2019]

@@diegomedina9637 No, he was not shooting blanks. There was no correct species female left to pair him with, so they offered him what they thought was the next closest related species of female. He mated, the eggs did not hatch. Later they discovered that the females offered to him were not the genetically closest and so were less likely to ever have been viable in the first place. Hybridising animals often/usually does not work. Even if they had been able to get eggs to hatch, they would still only have been hybrids and would not have been able to properly continue the Pinta Island tortoise species anyway. They would have been a curiosity, and no mates would have been available for them either. George was absolutely the last of his kind.

[@Mr.Foxhat]

I shall main Bowser in Smash Ultimate in George's name. Ironic since Bowser is pretty lonesome too.

[@DanceySteveYNWA]

@@EC2019 pretty sure that they will have taken his genetic profile and they have the ability to reintroduce said code into a viable host embryo. Whether its worth it is another story entirely,on a whole different sorts of levels.

[@zay_rat8942]

@@Mr.Foxhat Both of them are lonesome, especially Bowser, he can’t get any because of a plumber who jumps on mushrooms

[@noobbuilderproductions7865]

the museum of natural history (New York) made my childhood so memorable!!! Thank you guys so much!!!

[@DarkGT]

I watch the documentary about the George on NG years ago. Today I hear about his last day.

[@nickacelvn]

Happy travels George.

[@kanon1118]

Yo he dead where is he going?

[@clowninkitty3854]

omg I thought it was like alcohol preserved!!! not a statue!!

[@portugal5698]

So happy for George Dante, the taxidermist who preserved George. Was just a local guy who would do fish and deer for regulars to now doing museum work only all around the work. Sad that this beast passed leading to the species full extinction, but at least he will “be around for ever now.”

[@willow.bell.illustration]

And now I'm crying :( I didn't know he passed away.

[@zeldaxoxo9]

So lucky to have met him... so sad to relive his passing. RIP buddy

[@plastichouseplant]

I want that job. It must be great to see your work in a museum, connecting generations to come with animals they'd get a chance to see.

[@mayumimori3279]

I wish that job too, but it must to be so sad...

[@movedtocupowarriors4205]

Taxidermists deserve more credit for what they do.

[@Talis1717]

I really thought this was a realistic turtle cake till I read the title

[@ItchyPilauBoto]

Oh so George was inspiration for that futurama episode called “naturama.”

[@sleef9170]

When I saw the title, I thought they were going to take his DNA and inject it into a tortoise egg.

[@whyanimations4437]

Pov youtube recommended this 6 yrs later

[@stayhydrated310]

And one them said "yesterday is history, Tomorrow is mystery, And today is gift... That's Y they called it present" ~OOGWAY

[@thehistory9187]

RIP Master Oogway

[@cynthiaparsons9339]

Very interesting. Lonesome George looks beautiful.

[@st1ckyf1ngaz]

He was so cute.

[@catmaniac8646]

The fact that this was recommended to me after 6 yrs i kinda felt lik he was saying listen human's i might be gone but there are others that are still suffering please learn for us .... But guess some humans never learn

[@JustNatax3]

When you're one of the last of your species but you're infertile.

[@maddiesexotics4870]

Nati Whatever oh wow you’re so terribly funny

[@JustNatax3]

Maddie Brooke You must have a black sense of humor. That's pretty depressing.

[@maddiesexotics4870]

Nati Whatever so is extension (;

[@JustNatax3]

Maddie Brooke ???

[@maddiesexotics4870]

Nati Whatever *extinction

[@TheWereparadox]

Suddenly the Queen song starts playing in my head with epic guitar riffs. 🎶 "I am immortal. I have inside me blood of kings. I have no rival. No man can be my equal. Take me to the future of your world!" 🎶

[@_MrLee]

They can clone him and try again

[@cospaws8810]

If it were that easy they probably would have done that when he was alive 😞

[@geminisabah]

Yeah they cloned ghat sheep years ago but they cant clone the animals that are going extinct?

[@vasaus]

@@geminisabah i think it depends on having another animal to birth it, if there are no more tortoises like him so none to carry the clone

[@birdofilbert1772]

Egg

[@CheshieD]

@@geminisabah that clone sheep was infertile however. She couldn’t produce offspring, so it wouldn’t have made a difference.

[@JMWxx]

It looks like he’s just done a sculpture of what he looked like. RIP lonesome George. I hope you’re no longer lonely!

[@bluebloodcell9420]

1:40 *GEORGE* preserves Lonesome *GEORGE*

[@qinchang4036]

YES

[@hohosims5432]

The taxidermist did an amazing job

[@MattGodzilla2000]

Just wait, you'll see his ghost in the halls.

[@phoeberia2734]

Ppl: "He must be so lonely" George: "😌 All these nice people to hang out with."

[@lamegoldfish6736]

It is fascinating to see Art and Science working together with Lonesome George. 😃

[@myboyabdonfuckinlamronandt553]

rip jorge, a real human bean

[@gogo17s]

MY BOY A BD ON FUCKIN LAMRON AND THEM lol “human bean”

[@meow9426]

HUMAN BEAN LMAOOOOOO

[@moch.farisdzulfiqar6123]

Oh hi Denny, Lisa loves you too, as a person, a human BEAN...

[@kanon1118]

Yo hes a turtle. How is he a real human bean?

[@woody5563]

I love you, lonesome George 🐢

[@beans4269]

I was so sad when he died

[@trainwreck237]

I miss him. And I never even knew him before this. I cri.

[@BALLIandFLUFFYandOZIE]

They are making the sculpture of master Oogway.

[@TwoPilotMind]

This video really shows you what bad people we are. The mistakes we’ve made. Our mistakes are getting worse and worse.

[@saims.2402]

I thought they were drying him off after giving him a shower. 😢

[@draconiusultamius]

I remember crying a bit when I heard he died... strange to think it's been 8 years since then

[@christinafrch904]

R.I.P. sweet turtle :´(

[@fyz4919]

They missed an opportunity to name him Oogway

[@imcintyre01]

Are we sure some dinosaurs like the "Long necks" weren't actually big turtles without a shell? Some turtles have soft shells and some no shells at all.

[@miracleaniaaa7208]

Yeah i was kind of thinking that, theres some similarities

[@nekroneko7335]

Rest In Peace handsome George

[@marsupialsofmars3886]

These types of videos reassure me that taxidermy is mostly sculpture and very little dead animal

[@matthewmann8969]

Turtles and Tortoises even the Non Snapping ones are hard to anticipate, expect, time, and follow

[@kinzthegreat8959]

He was the true curious George. . .

[@wtx23j]

RIP Lonesome George

[@derfine6513]

I hope in the future he atleast see the world again and gets a warm hug from everyone

[@JoshZnh]

"This Is His Shell, His Skin" Me : WTFFF His skiinnnn??!!! He wass mutilatedd?? Wttffff

[@papanurgle8393]

Lonesome George was a refined and wise soul, if anyone earned a monument, it's him.

[@koootoshidayo]

Rip Joji

[@aimanzidani6478]

Arima Muhammad Kousei is this a meme lol

[@ノクターン-r2q]

Danizi Joji is the Japanese version of George.. unless he's talking about filthy frank then yes xd

[@CoreyMillionaire2029]

George would have wanted to us to preserve him. To remind us ALL of how we can save the world's wildlife. He was beloved, cherished, and yet he still lived and died like a free wild animal, instead of a caged individual the victim of man's greed and selflessness. God bless him.

[@andresverez6645]

Debería estar en Ecuador 🇪🇨 nos pertenece

[@laurab9867]

Nadio robo el cadaver del animal. Probablemente alguien "del Ecuador" llamo al museo de historia natural de Nueva York para que preservaran a George.

[@erikaerika7788]

Andres Verez el video dice el govierno mando el cadaver para Ny , para didecarlo y lo regresaron a ecuadoren despues de tenerlo listo ,

[@mmawithsubtitles7460]

Read the discription " after a limited time on view at the Museum The Lonesome George returns to Ecuador as part of that nation's patrimony"

[@draskang]

Amazing work Mr Dante

[@ByakuganWhite]

I hope they preserved some DNA samples. Cloning is an extremely viable way to recover an extinct species.

[@astrotheflower295]

yeah but we still won’t forget George 😢

[@samjudge1240]

It's unfortunate to see George end alone of his kind, to any life in the universe. May George be immortalised and remembered in history. With my respect Gorge, may he rest well. (salutes while honouring bagpipe music play in the background)

[@asianboy8969]

Is artificial insemination not possible?

[@Ari-fm7df]

asianboy8969 from what I heard he did take a liking to some females, but none of the eggs would hatch. So, it could be that the big guy was infertile.

[@aniquinstark4347]

RIP George. He was a very good boy.

[@alexandermartinez1318]

When you said he died in 2012 after I was thinking how I would put it on my bucketlist to meet him, I started crying. God I hate humans with a passion

[@mattc1647]

These people get paid a ton to talk about a dead tortoise probably

[@firemangan2731]

No, they’re people who had loved and took care of George after he was found in 1972 (tho understandably some of them are just there for the money.). Do you really think talking about something that you love is stupid and you have to be paid alot of money just to talk about it?

[@gavinburnes6344]

This guy is an artist !!!

[@kenjiro2676]

If only george mated with one of the females... His species would have propbably been saved, I hope they got his DNA and put it into a egg..

[@noahdavis8559]

Rest in peace, old lonely dude.

[@bussyhairsoup4298]

“He doesn’t find interest in female turtles” ever considered that be might have been gay? Like, for real tho...

[@iluvblackeyedpeas7]

I didn’t know he died in 2012... that’s so sad.

[@camhmar6479]

Thats the outcome of being gay! Our human species might got extinct someday too

[@euphonizzle]

Paul Hmar shut the fuck up

[@whatever2468xyz]

don't listen to the running bitch your comment cracked me up, keep it up bro

[@animalobsessed1]

Lots of creatures would celebrate the extinction of the top predator.

[@janus1936]

I'd prefer for the human population to go that way. I mean, its much preferred to starving or being engulfed by the sun. Plus, it wasn't his fault the stuntmen in his cannon were dead! Give a turtle a break! ;)

[@lmeza1983]

lol humans are not in danger of extinction thanks to other species... in fact we need less new borns!

[@AngrySinn]

I wish I had the chance to meet George... His story is so tragic...

[@danielplainview4587]

Duolingo Podcast led me here. Hola Washington, disfruté tu historia con Lonesome George

[@leonardalsleben8599]

Proud to say my boy George aint no simp.

[@ianterry8827]

I also thought he was still alive and that tortoise is awesome

[@Lykoz.]

Cue the uplifting music when they bring in the carcass!

[@AGhostintheHouse]

I've known of Lonesome George for a very long time and I'm only just now learning of his death in December 2020.

[@AdamMerlin]

Seeing a Turtle pass away must be so hard. Because they have such a long lifespan. I have never seen a turtle die as of late.

[@ayo69420]

my lil boy died on october 27th of this year :( He was a Motelo tortoise He was my best bud. He loved neck scratches and would fall asleep on my hand. He was older than me but i knew him since I was a baby. R.I.P Mikey

[@thomasduffyjr]

This has been out for 6 YEARS?! Why am I only seeing this now