Aldabra Tortoise

Aldabra Tortoises are thought to be descendants of extinct tortoise species that once lived on the African continent. These descendants are thought to have crossed the ocean by catching a ride on floating vegetation. Once established on their island homes, the tortoises had few predators and little competition for food. This allowed them to thrive and become GIANT. Their large size is known as “island gigantism.”

Aldabra tortoises stay active during the day and are known as ecosystem engineers, reshaping the landscape as they graze and move. Their heavy grazing has formed a special kind of grassland habitat called “tortoise turf.”’ They are responsible for a significant amount of seed dispersal and assist in the germination of certain seeds as they pass through their digestive tract.

Female Aldabra tortoises reach maturity around age 25 and then mate once or twice a year, producing a clutch of 4-25 eggs each time. After laying the eggs in a shallow, dry nest, the female leaves the clutch to hatch on their own after an approximate 110 days of incubation.