The Pinta Island tortoise Lonesome George was the last known member of his subspecies and he has become a symbol of the importance of conservation. This short documentary shows us how the taxidermists at the American Museum of Natural History preserved Lonesome George for future generations.
Preserving Lonesome George is a brief look at the care, craft, and observation that goes into preserving a taxidermic specimen, especially one that has gone extinct. Lonesome George was first spotted in 1971 on the island of Pinta in the Galápagos and lived out his remaining days in captivity until his death (by natural causes) in 2012. After an exhibition at the AMNH, Lonesome George will be returning to Ecuador.
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