Environment: Fabled bachelor Lonesome George may finally be a father. The Guardian

Keepers recover a clutch of eggs from the enclosure of the conservation icon of the Galapagos islands

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Lonesome George, the conservation icon of the Galapagos islands and last surviving tortoise of his kind, may finally become a father, after keepers recovered a clutch of eggs from his enclosure.

Rangers at Galapagos National Park noticed George was behaving differently in recent months, and two weeks ago spotted one of his two female companions digging around in the soil in his pen.

On closer inspection, they discovered a nest containing nine eggs, three of which they transferred to an incubator. It will be 120 days before they are able to confirm whether the eggs are harbouring George's offspring.

George was rescued in 1972 from Pinta, one of the islands off Ecuador's Pacific coast, but has shown little interest in reproducing, much to the dismay of weary ecologists who are keen to prevent his species from becoming extinct.

The tortoise, the world's rarest creature, became famous after fishermen and pirates slaughtered the rest of his species for food.

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