![]() Both the pirates and whalers caused widespread devastation to the island’s wildlife, especially the Galápagos tortoise. In the 17th century, the island was used as a hiding spot for pirates, and in the 18th century as a stopping point for whalers. But, its bleak landscape meant that it was never colonised. It was discovered by the Spanish Bishop, Tomas de Berlanga, in the 15th century. It is also known as Abingdon Island, after the Earl of Abingdon. Pinta Island was named after one of Columbus’s ships. His body was preserved at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City and was eventually put on display at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz Island. ![]() Numerous attempts at mating George over the decades were all unsuccessful and he eventually dies in 2012. ![]() Whalers and pirates destroyed most of the tortoise population, leaving behind one survivor, who was called Lonesome George. The carapace of this species has a distinctive saddleback. However, the most famous resident of the island were the Pinta Island Tortoises a subspecies of the Galápagos tortoise. Chelonoidis abingdonii was the only species of giant tortoise known to occur on Pinta Island. Pinta Island is also home to Galápagos hawks, fur seals, swallow-tailed gulls, marine iguanas, Galápagos fur seals blue-tailed boobies and sparrowhawks. This diminished the food for the native tortoises, and there was a successful movement to exterminate the goats. Much of what was left was devastated by feral goats that were introduced to the island in 1950. with flared up shells and longer necks could reach the high-growing plants. Even though the island is just 60 square kilometres, it has some of the widest variety of wildlife in the area.ĭue to the many young volcanoes, the island has very sparse vegetation. There is only one Pinta Island tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus abingdoni).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |