Lot 105: David Cooke, born 1970 Lonesome George Stoneware

David Cooke, born 1970
Lonesome George
Stoneware
Unique
82cm.; 32ins high by 132cm.; 52ins long
Lonesome George is a tortoise, the last known individual of the Pinta Island tortoise, which is one of eight to fifteen extant subspecies of Galápagos tortoise. He has been labelled the rarest creature in the world, and he is a potent symbol for conservation efforts in the Galápagos and conservation efforts internationally. It is thought that he was named after a character played by American actor, George Gobel
George was first seen on the island of Pinta on 1 December 1971 by Hungarian malacologist József Vágvölgyi. The island~s vegetation had been devastated by the introduction of feral goats, and the indigenous tortoise population had been reduced to a single individual. Relocated for his safety to the Charles Darwin Research Station, George was penned with two females of a different subspecies, and although eggs have been produced, none have hatched.
George is estimated to be about 100 years of age,and he is in good health.