We may be in serious trouble. The rabbit or hare depending on your version might win this one.

One of the world’s rarest species of tortoise is under extreme threat. The rarity is not that this is the one that loses to the hare. The threat to Speedy is from exotic pet smugglers.

Conservationists are fighting with smugglers to keep them from taking the Ploughshare tortoise. This type of tortoise can garner thousands of dollars on the black market. It is only found Madagascar.

Some estimates say there are only between 400 and 1,000 left.

If you ask me, we had better hurry … rabbit like hurry.

It is not very often that we are really bothered about the sexual adventures of others, let alone other creatures beyond us. But all fun aside, human activity has driven many species on the planet to the verge of extinction and Lonesome George is one of those who has found himself on that precarious edge. A Pinta Island tortoise, George is the last of his kind and one could say that the survival of his species rests on his hard shell!

Now at the age of 90, the conservation male turtle is at its sexual peak (at 90, I wish we could say that) and still seems hesitant to mate with females of other sub-species. George’s tendency has earned him his tag of Lonesome George while others have speculated that he could be gay.

Even though recently George (finally) managed to mate with two females, that has resulted in almost negative results. Eighty percent of the eggs laid by the females after mating have been found to be infertile and there is no guarantee that any of them will actually produce an off-spring. However, they are still placed in the incubator and scientists are hoping for a miracle.

Look, guys, ease off of George’s back! I can really relate to his problem. It is tough enough when you need to maintain a standard under no pressure in the sack. This guy has the pressure of sustaining his species as he does his thing under the shell. All that pressure and attention can put off even the best.

Let’s hope George rises to the occasion!

Source: Reuters