Aldabra Giant Tortoise

Aldabra Giant Tortoises

Scientific name: Geochelone gigantea

Aldabra Giant Tortoises can weigh up to 250kg and reach ages of up to 150 years old. They are native to Aldabra Island, Seychelles, northeast of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean.

 These tortoises have been known to knock over small trees and shrubs to obtain nutritious leaves. Seeds pass through the tortoise's digestive tract and eventually become food for many other species.

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  1. At Noah's Ark...

    We have 6 Aldabra Tortoises, Hogarth, Terrence, Blue, Hissy, Stevie and Esmerelda.

  2. Where to find us...

    Whilst we are native to the Seychelles at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm you can find us opposite the Elephants and next to the Vulture habitat.

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Giant tortoises don't just live in nature; they help create it.

As they wander across their islands, they eat fruits, leaves and grasses before carrying seeds inside their bodies. Hours or even days later, those seeds are deposited somewhere new in a ready-made pile of natural fertiliser!

Without giant tortoises, many plants would struggle to spread, forests would change and other wildlife would lose important habitats.

That's why scientists call giant tortoises ecosystem engineers.

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Meet the Giant Tortoises

Meeting an Aldabra giant tortoise is a chance to come face-to-face with one of nature's greatest conservation success stories.

These gentle giants have survived for millions of years, yet many giant tortoise species were pushed to the brink by people. Today, conservationists are working to protect them and restore the habitats they help create.

Every visit to Noah's Ark Zoo Farm helps support our conservation work and inspires the next generation to protect remarkable species like these.

Meet the Giants

Adopt the Giant Tortoises Meet the Giant Tortoises

  1. Size Fact

    The Aldabra giant tortoise is the second largest tortoise on Earth, with some males weighing over 250kg – that's heavier than three adult humans!

  2. Food Fact

    Tortoises are herbivores, eating Grasses, Sedges, Flowers, Succulents, and Fruits.

  3. Fun Fact

    Some individuals are known to have lived longer than 150 years!

  4. Nature's Gardeners

    Giant tortoises help forests grow. As they eat fruits and plants, they carry seeds across the islands before depositing them in nutrient-rich dung, giving new plants the perfect place to grow.

  5. Restoring Habitats

    Conservationists are returning giant tortoises to islands where they once disappeared. As they graze, browse and spread seeds, they help restore habitats for countless other species.

  6. Protecting more than Giant Tortoises

    Saving giant tortoises doesn't just protect the tortoises themselves. Because they shape their environment, healthy tortoise populations help support entire ecosystems, benefiting plants, insects, birds and other wildlife.

  7. Built for Browsing

    Unlike many tortoises, Aldabra giant tortoises have long necks that help them reach leaves and branches up to a metre above the ground. Their flexible necks allow them to enjoy a varied diet and reach food that other animals can't.

  8. Aldabra Atoll

    The islands where Aldabra giant tortoises live, The Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, is a UNESCO site and is thought to have more than 100,000 wild tortoises including the largest remaining population of giant tortoises anywhere in the world.

  9. Swimmers?

    Although they are land animals, giant tortoises are surprisingly good in the water. Their large lungs make them naturally buoyant, allowing them to float and paddle between islands. Scientists believe their ancestors reached new islands by drifting on ocean currents.

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Adopt Me

You can support our conservation efforts and help with the costs of keeping rare and wonderful zoo animals by adopting a Giant Tortoise. Adopt a Giant Tortoise for yourself or as a gift.

Adopt me now

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