Seychelles giant tortoise numbers hit record 180,000 in conservation triumph
Free-roaming Aldabra population thrives on Indian Ocean atoll due to decades-long recovery programme
TL;DR
- A survey found approximately 180,000 Aldabra giant tortoises on Aldabra Atoll in Seychelles, the highest number recorded.
- This population is the world's largest free-roaming giant tortoise population, with a smaller group in the Galápagos.
- The increase is attributed to a long-term conservation commitment, with the island designated as a strict nature reserve in 1981 and a Unesco site in 1982.
- Despite the success, threats like climate change (droughts, rising sea levels) and invasive mammals (feral cats, black rats) persist.
- Researchers emphasize the need for continued monitoring and management to address future pressures and ensure population growth.