Researchers estimate that around 180,000 giant tortoises live on Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, giving the reptiles a population larger than the country’s human population.
The survey, led by the Seychelles Islands Foundation and the University of Exeter, produced the highest population estimate ever recorded for Aldabra giant tortoises.
Scientists analyzed monitoring data collected between 2018 and 2022, arriving at a best estimate of almost 183,000 adult and sub-adult tortoises roaming the atoll.
Giant tortoises have already made headlines this year, with Jonathan’s carers dismissing a viral death hoax after the world’s oldest living land animal was falsely reported dead. Now, researchers have more good news about the reptiles.
Giant tortoise survey reveals thousands more than earlier estimates
The study, published in Ecology and Evolution, puts the population well above the widely cited estimate of 100,000 from the late 1990s.
However, that does not mean tortoise numbers have nearly doubled. Earlier surveys could miss animals concealed by vegetation or shade. The new analysis accounted for those unseen tortoises, giving researchers a more reliable estimate.
PixabayThe findings suggest the population was relatively stable during the study period, rather than suddenly booming.
It is a different kind of wildlife discovery from the animals found living deep inside Cambodia’s caves. Researchers already knew Aldabra’s tortoises were there. The challenge was working out how many.
Their numbers represent a remarkable recovery. Heavy exploitation in the 19th century reduced the population to fewer than 1,000 individuals. Aldabra later became a strict nature reserve in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
“More than 180,000 giant tortoises roaming freely on our atoll is proof of what long-term commitment to conservation can achieve,” SIF CEO Dr Frauke Fleischer-Dogley said in the university’s announcement.
The tortoises still face threats. Longer droughts could reduce food and shade, while rising seas threaten low-lying habitat. Feral cats and black rats also prey on eggs and hatchlings.
Researchers hope the improved estimate will help conservation teams spot future changes and respond before the population runs into trouble.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
