Giant tortoise population thrives on Seychelles island
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Researchers from the Seychelles Islands Foundation and the University of Exeter discovered approximately 180,000 Aldabra giant tortoises living on Aldabra Atoll, a part of Seychelles.
This figure, obtained from five years of counts between 2018 and 2022, is the highest ever recorded for the species and surpasses the human population of Seychelles. The Aldabra Atoll is one of only two places in the world where these giant tortoises live in the wild, the other being the Galápagos Islands.
The tortoise population declined to fewer than 1,000 in the 19th century due to overexploitation. However, a conservation program established the atoll as a strict nature reserve in 1981 and a UNESCO site in 1982, leading to the current recovery. Scientists acknowledge counting the tortoises is difficult due to dense vegetation, so they used modeling to create the most accurate estimate possible. Despite this success, researchers warn that the population still faces threats.
Changing climate conditions, including longer droughts and rising sea levels, could reduce the tortoises’ food and habitat. Invasive mammals like feral cats and black rats also prey on tortoise eggs and young, but a planned eradication program could further improve the population’s prospects.
