Descendants of extinct Galapagos tortoises found

Conservationists working around the largest volcano on the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador believe they have found 30 giant tortoises partially descended from two extinct species, including that of the famed Lonesome George. The Galapagos National Park and Galapagos Conservancy said one of the discovered tortoises - a young female - has a direct line of descent from the Chelonoidis abingdonii species of Pinta Island. The last of those tortoises was Lonesome George, who was believed to be over 100 years old when he died in June 2012. Another 11 males and 18 females are thought to have descended from the Chelonoidis niger line of Floreana Island. At least four of the species are now considered extinct. The Conservancy estimates that 20,000-25,000 wild tortoises still live on the islands today.