In pictures: Famous animals whose deaths caused outpourings of human grief

Since officials at the Galapagos National Park confirmed Lonesome George's death his name has been trending on Twitter, there have been tributes in major newspapers and across social networking sites people have poured out grief for the last of the Pinta subspecies of giant tortoise.

But Lonesome George is not the only animal to have attracted as many #RIPs as Michael Jackson (the three year anniversary of whose death is also today). Remember Knut the adorable polar bear who inspired "KnutMania" around the world? Or the earless bunny trodden on by a camera-man in March?

Click here or on "View Gallery" for more examples in pictures