AI Image
Giant tortoise population thriving as survey discovers 180,000 on one island
New York Post • • world
Key Points:
- A recent survey led by the Seychelles Islands Foundation and the University of Exeter found approximately 180,000 Aldabra giant tortoises on Aldabra Atoll, the highest number ever recorded for the species.
- This population figure, based on five years of data from 2018 to 2022, significantly surpasses previous estimates from the late 1990s and exceeds the human population of the Seychelles.
- Aldabra Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1982, is one of only two wild habitats for giant tortoises, with the other being the Galapagos Islands.
- Despite the population's stability and growth, researchers warn that climate change, rising sea levels, and invasive predators like feral cats and black rats pose ongoing threats to the tortoises' survival.
- The study emphasizes the importance of continued conservation efforts, including planned eradication of invasive species, to ensure the population can withstand future environmental pressures.
