Researchers find 180,000 giant tortoises living on island in Seychelles
A landmark survey led by the Seychelles Islands Foundation and the University of Exeter has identified approximately 180,000 Aldabra giant tortoises on Aldabra Atoll. This figure represents the highest count ever recorded for the species and confirms a major conservation success story in the Indian Ocean. Despite the population recovery, researchers warn that climate change and invasive species continue to pose significant threats to the tortoises' long-term survival.
- ▪The study analyzed five years of data from 2018 to 2022 to estimate a population of nearly 183,000 adult and sub-adult tortoises.
- ▪Aldabra Atoll is one of only two locations in the world where giant tortoises live in the wild, the other being the Galápagos.
- ▪The tortoise population recovered from fewer than 1,000 individuals in the 19th century after the island became a strict nature reserve in 1981.
- ▪Researchers identified rising sea levels, increased droughts, and invasive mammals like feral cats and black rats as ongoing threats to the population.
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| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/oct/08/researchers-find-180000-giant-tortoises-living-on-island-in-seychelles |
| Publication time | Thu, 08 Oct 2026 16:11:53 GMT |
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An Aldabra giant tortoise in Seychelles. Photograph: cinoby/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreenAn Aldabra giant tortoise in Seychelles. Photograph: cinoby/Getty ImagesWildlifeResearchers find 180,000 giant tortoises living on island in SeychellesFigure is highest ever recorded for species and confirms one of Indian Ocean’s greatest conservation success storiesSouth West News ServiceThu 8 Oct 2026 12.11 EDTLast modified on Thu 8 Oct 2026 12.13 EDTSharePrefer the Guardian on GoogleA landmark survey of the world’s largest free-roaming giant tortoise population has revealed the once endangered species is thriving.A population of Aldabra giant tortoise lives on an island in Seychelles called Aldabra Atoll.The most recent survey, led by Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) and the University of…
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