Lonesome George, the last giant tortoise of his kind, dies - in pictures

Lonesome George, the last known Pinta island giant tortoise (subspecies Geochelone nigra abingdoni) at Galápagos National Park's breeding centre in 2006 Photograph: Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images

Lonesome George takes a stroll through his protected home on Santa Cruz island in 2001 Photograph: Reuters

Lonesome George explores the Charles Darwin breeding station on Santa Cruz island
Photograph: Thomas H Fritts/EPA

Lonesome George was the last known member of his species Photograph: Jan Ronneburger/EPA

Lonesome George was thought to be around 100 years old when he died Photograph: Rodrigo Buendia/AFP/Getty Images

Scientists had been trying without success to get Lonesome George to mate since 1993 Photograph: Reuters

One of the last pictures of Lonesome George alive was taken last month by the Guardian and Observer photographer Gary Calton
Photograph: Gary Calton for the Guardian

Workers prepare to remove Lonesome George's body from his compound
Photograph: Reuters

Lonesome George's body is moved from his compound on a stretcher Photograph: Handout/Reuters