The Galapagos islands have earned years ago the inscription to UNESCO’s World Heritage. You have to admit that their unique situation (recognized ince the founding travel of Charles Darwin and confirmd by innumerable TV documentaries like those from Cousteau) was quite understandable. But New Scientist tells us that this privileged status may be lost to the intensive tourism that is slowly degrading the location and its flora and fauna.
On the contrary, the same New Scientist also tells us that there is hope for Lonesome George. He is the last male from the local Giant tortoise species. Now, there is the faint possibility that he could reproduce with a giant tortoise from Isabella Island which could have sufficient genetic proximity with Lonesome George to allow reproduction. Let’s wait for the scientific community to confirm this.