Iconic tortoise Lonesome George, 80, may be sterile

Lonesome George, the conservation icon of the Galapagos islands and last surviving tortoise of his kind, looks set to stay lonely after again failing to produce offspring.Galapagos National Park officials announced yesterday that eight eggs laid by the giant tortoise's two female companions are infertile.Conservationists' hopes were raised in July when George's mates produced eggs after no fewer than 36 years of encouragement by park rangers.The eggs were placed in an artificial incubator but they did not develop embryos. There are now fears that George, who is thought to be around 80 years old and the last remaining member of the Geochelone abigdoni species, is sterile.The most recent prospective mothers have accompanied George in captivity since 1993 but did not begin mating with him until late 2006. They belong to the Geochelone becki species – believed to be the closest existing relative of George. Between them, the females laid 13...

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