A landmark survey has revealed that the Aldabra giant tortoise population on Aldabra Atoll in Seychelles is thriving, with approximately 180,000 individuals recorded. This figure represents the highest ever recorded for the species.
The survey, led by the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) and the University of Exeter, analysed tortoise counts from 2018 to 2022. This is the first update since a figure of 100,000 tortoises was widely cited in the late 1990s.
Dr Frauke Fleischer-Dogley, CEO of SIF, stated that the population is proof of what long-term conservation commitment can achieve. The study, published in the scientific journal Ecology and Evolution, found the population to be relatively stable during this period, with a best estimate of almost 183,000 adult and sub-adult tortoises.
Despite this success, researchers warn that vigilance is crucial. Predicted longer and more frequent droughts could reduce food and shade for tortoises, while rising sea levels threaten low-lying areas of the atoll. Invasive mammals, such as feral cats and black rats, also pose a threat by preying on tortoise eggs and hatchlings.