PINTA ISLAND

Pinta Island, also known as Abingdon, is a small uninhabited island located in the north of the archipelago and, along with Genovesa, Marchena, Wolf and Darwin, is slightly separated from the rest of the islands in Galapagos. The land area of 60 square kilometres is protected and the island receives few visitors except scientists.

Pinta is one of six islands that has had notable success in the eradication of introduced goats, which were completely removed after a 30-year campaign, however this island also has the sad reputation of having the smallest tortoise population in the world. Giant tortoises, once present in their thousands, are now extinct in the wild, and only one tortoise remains from this race (Geochelone elephantophus abingdoni) - Lonesome George, who now resides at the Charles Darwin Research Station on Santa Cruz. Attempts to mate him with two females from Wolf volcano on Isabela have so far proved to be unsuccessful.

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