Find mates for lonely old turtles

Scientists are looking for a mate for the " lonely George ", the only surviving individual of a Galapagos turtle. However, many people believe that the effort to prevent this extinction is hopeless.

Even if a girl was found, they still remembered that George had never been interested in breeding before and might not know how, those who took care of it said.

"This search is a long-term blessing," said Linda Cayot, a former scientific consultant on Galapagos conservation and George's former carer. "George may be physiologically unable to reproduce."

Until recently, George was thought to be the only surviving member of a giant turtle found only on the island of Pinta, one of the Galapagos islands, off Ecuador. Earlier this year, scientists at the University of Connecticut reported finding a female turtle on Isabela island, another Galapagos island, and the son of a Pinta island male turtle with a female on Isabela island.

But George has so far shown little interest in female tortoises locked in with him at the Darwin research center."He has a problem . It never seems to see a male and a female of the same species breeding", S veva Grigioni, who worked with George for 13 years, said.

George's age is not an obstacle. It is predicted to be between 60 and 90 years old, and can live up to 200 years while still reproducing, scientists said.

Lonely George is walking in the garden.(Photo: Reuters)

T. An