Before the tortoises were released, they were quarantined and given clean bills of health. They were monitored and microchipped for the Seychelles national tortoise census
The Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance, North Island Seychelles, along with the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Energy and Natural Resources (MECENR) have translocated 50 Aldabra giant tortoises (Aldabrachelys gigantea) from Mahé to North Island. This will enable these tortoises to roam in their natural habitat unimpeded.
Before the tortoises were released, they were quarantined and given clean bills of health. They were monitored and microchipped for the Seychelles national tortoise census. They were also fed a strict diet of native leaves to eliminate the spread of invasive plant species. When they were transported to North Island, the tortoises underwent a second quarantine and health check to ensure the island’s biosecurity protocols were met.
Rinch Baxter from the Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance moving a tortoise fro quarantine.
Several of the tortoises were previously family members with residents of the island, some whom have kept them for decades. “Tortoises have long been part of Seychelles culture,” said Patrick Samson. “Our family tortoises will likely live a century. We wanted them to live freely and contribute to the environment we all rely on. Working with IOTA and North Island gave us peace of mind.”
Translocation
The translocation of these tortoises will strengthen the population of the species and contribute to their conservation, Mathilde le Gressus, North Island Conservation Coordinator said in the statement. Le Gressus noted that the tortoises are exploring further away from the release sites. The alliance is already looking for nesting activity.
“Rewilding North Island with Aldabra giant tortoises donated from private owners is about restoring the natural systems that make Seychelles special,” Rich Baxter, Director of IOTA said in a statement released to the media. “This project shows how conservation and communities can work together. It’s a win not just for the tortoises but for every person who wants to see Seychelles’ islands thrive.”
Aldabra Giant Tortoise Information
Aldabra giant tortoises are so named because of where they are found in the wild, the Aldabran Atoll off the coast of the Seychelles. The giant tortoises can weigh up to 500 pounds, making them one of the biggest tortoises in the world. The Galapagos tortoise is bigger. Mostly herbivores, the Aldabra tortoise feeds on grasses, leaves, plants, stems and weeds.
Scientists Speculate Ancient Crocs Fed On Aldabra Tortoises On Aldabra Atoll
The tortoises were once found on most of the islands in the Indian Ocean. They were hunted for their meat and disappeared from Madagascar, Mauritius and Reunion islands until 1900, when Charles Darwin offered to pay half the atoll’s lease to anyone who could ensure that the exploitation of the reptile was stopped. Aldabra Island has been managed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation since 1981 as a special reserve. It has been completely protected under the Seychelles National Parks and Nature Conservancy Act, and the giant tortoises have been monitored every month for the past 20 years.
