Lonesome George's eggs are fertile!

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SunsetHypo

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Been doing a lot of research lately and was very exited to see this. Here is the link to the site, but I will post info here too. This is from the Galapagos Conservation Trust. http://www.gct.org/sep08_1.html

Scientists in Galapagos who have been anxiously incubating the eggs of the world's only surviving Pinta Tortoise are hopeful that 14 of Lonesome George's eggs may be fertile.

Naturalists were initially sceptical when rangers from the Galapagos National Park on Santa Cruz Island found a clutch of eggs in the enclosure Lonesome George shares with two Espanola Tortoise females. Tortoises, like chickens, often lay eggs without any male input.

And now the rangers, who have taken care of the world's loneliest batchelor at the Charles Darwin Research Station since he was moved from Pinta Island in 1972, have found another three eggs in a nest in his enclosure.

These three, all of perfect size and weight were immediately transferred to incubators - two being coddled at a temperature of 29.5º C to hatch females and one at 28 ºC to ensure a male.

'This is such exciting news after all the years of waiting,' says Toni Darton, Chief Executive of GCT, which has been funding the tortoise breeding programme at the Research Station for many years.'
 

Itort

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Alright !!!!!!
 

SunsetHypo

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I can't seem to confirm this on any other website, but I will keep looking. Hopefully it is true.
 

N2TORTS

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SunsetHypo said:
Been doing a lot of research lately and was very exited to see this. Here is the link to the site, but I will post info here too. This is from the Galapagos Conservation Trust. http://www.gct.org/sep08_1.html

Scientists in Galapagos who have been anxiously incubating the eggs of the world's only surviving Pinta Tortoise are hopeful that 14 of Lonesome George's eggs may be fertile.

Naturalists were initially sceptical when rangers from the Galapagos National Park on Santa Cruz Island found a clutch of eggs in the enclosure Lonesome George shares with two Espanola Tortoise females. Tortoises, like chickens, often lay eggs without any male input.

And now the rangers, who have taken care of the world's loneliest batchelor at the Charles Darwin Research Station since he was moved from Pinta Island in 1972, have found another three eggs in a nest in his enclosure.

These three, all of perfect size and weight were immediately transferred to incubators - two being coddled at a temperature of 29.5º C to hatch females and one at 28 ºC to ensure a male.

'This is such exciting news after all the years of waiting,' says Toni Darton, Chief Executive of GCT, which has been funding the tortoise breeding programme at the Research Station for many years.'

There was a TV special on tonight that had a big feature on him .. The show was on " Nature Channle" ..and Tittle .. The Loneliest Animals on the Planet ... was X~CELLENT! any of ya get to see it ?
 

t_mclellan

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Here is a thought.
I have heard that male Galop's are not overly discreet when it come to courtship & breeding. They are very vocal & some would say, Just plain LOUD! (from what I understand)
My question is;
Has anyone actually seen or heard courtship or breeding activity from George?
As I understand it he has never shown any interest in any of the females that have ever been placed with him.

Time will tell!
I AM hoping that George is just a sneaky bugger & pulled it off without anyone knowing!
 

Stephanie Logan

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If so, that would demonstrate a second "singularity" that sets George apart among male tortoises. I've seen those "tort porn" videos. :p

Go George! It would be so cool if he fathered some babies and passed his genes on. ;)
 

egyptiandan

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I'm afraid that news is from 2008 and that year all eggs were infertile. As far as I've heard all the eggs from last year were infertile also.
Supposedly George has been attempting to breed Tom. Obviously he hasn't been able to get to actual intromission.

Danny
 

t_mclellan

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Thanks Danny,
I hadn't heard that he had ever been interested in any females provided for him.
Just showing interest is a start. Time will tell.
Recently I heard of a Tuatara male in NZ. that started successfully breeding again at 111 years old or so.
So just maybe he'll find his "MoJo"!


Tom
 

t_mclellan

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I didn't even catch that!
TOO FUNNY!
Really though, He aint gettin near me with THAT thing!
&
I hereby repent of all thoughts or actions I have ever han in the field of "Hybridization"!

BLAST YOU CARL!!
 
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