Lonesome George Documentary in the Works

Iervolino & Lady Bacardi Entertainment (ILBE) and businessman Eduardo Maruri have teamed up to make a documentary on Lonesome George, a tortoise who became an international symbol for conservation efforts.

Conceptualized by Maruri, the film tells the emotional story of the last 40 years of Lonesome George’s life. The tortoise lived in captivity from 1972 to 2012, having become an icon for sexual diversity in the animal kingdom as scientists tried and failed to force him to reproduce with female tortoises multiple times.

The film, which is being produced by ILBE and Maruri Pictures in association with Cheers Film, encourages the audience to question the morality of scientific bias, homosexuality in animals, forced reproduction and, ultimately, freedom.

The tortoise’s life started a social impact campaign called Sorry George, which seeks not only to honor his memory but also to reframe the narrative around his life.

Danilo Manzano, executive director of Diálogo Diverso, said: “Today we invite you to open your mind and accept different possibilities to achieve the same end…homosexual behavior is natural and, if it is in animals, why not in humans?”