Lonesome George is the sole surviving member of the Pinta Island Tortoise race, the giant tortoise being a symbol for the fragility of the Galapagos islands, and a constant reminder for vigilance and conservation of the species.

The species was considered extinct until 1971, when a lone example was located by rangers.

Since then, the Charles Darwin Research Station has been searching for a female tortoise, even posting a reward of $10,000 to those that find one.

Pinta Island tortoise is a turtle that can be considered as one of the few species of Giant Galapagos tortoises and the rarest animal in the world.