Aldabra Giant Tortoise Population on Seychelles Island Exceeds 180,000
Recent research shows that the number of giant tortoises living on the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles has reached a record level.
A new comprehensive study conducted on the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles revealed that the world's largest population of free-roaming giant tortoises has reached approximately 180,000 individuals. This figure was recorded as the highest number ever registered for the species.
Research and Census Details
In the study led by the Seychelles Islands Foundation and the University of Exeter, tortoise counts spanning the five years between 2018 and 2022 were analyzed. The obtained data showed that the population significantly exceeded the estimate of 100,000 announced in the late 1990s.
Historical Process and Conservation Efforts
In the nineteenth century, due to overhunting and exploitation, the number of Aldabra tortoises on the island had dropped below one thousand. Thanks to the initiated recovery program, the region was declared a strict nature reserve in 1981 and a UNESCO site in 1982.
Future Risks and Warnings
While the authors of the study, published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, emphasized that the achieved success is a major conservation victory, they stated that caution must be maintained against climate change, droughts, and invasive mammals.