Population of Aldabra Giant Tortoises Reaches 180,000
A significant milestone in conservation efforts has been achieved with the discovery that the Aldabra giant tortoise population on the Indian Ocean atoll has surpassed previous estimates.
The Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) and the University of Exeter have announced a significant milestone in conservation efforts: the population of Aldabra giant tortoises on the Indian Ocean atoll has reached an unprecedented 180,000.
Aldabra Atoll is home to the world's largest free-roaming giant tortoise population. This remarkable count was obtained through five years of data analysis from surveys conducted between 2018 and 2022. The findings far surpass any previous estimates, including a widely cited figure of 100,000 tortoises recorded in the late 1990s.
The island is one of only two locations worldwide where giant tortoises can be found living in their natural habitat, with the other being the Galápagos Islands. This remarkable conservation success story highlights the impact of sustained efforts to protect and preserve vulnerable species.
According to Dr Frauke Fleischer-Dogley, CEO of SIF, this achievement is a testament to the power of long-term commitment to conservation. She hailed the news as "wonderful" for Seychelles, the world at large, and all those who have contributed to protecting the Aldabra tortoise population.
The study's findings have provided a crucial benchmark for monitoring the population over time.
The researchers used advanced modeling techniques to estimate the number of adult and sub-adult tortoises on the island, taking into account areas where counting is particularly challenging due to dense vegetation.
Aldabra Island has undergone significant conservation efforts since the 19th century, when exploitation led to a drastic decline in the population from an estimated 1,000 or fewer remaining individuals.
The recovery programme's success was cemented with the establishment of a strict nature reserve in 1981 and a Unesco site designation in 1982, solidifying Aldabra's status as one of the region's most notable conservation success stories.
Despite this triumph, the researchers warn that the island's unique ecosystem is facing new threats, including climate change, which may reduce shade and food availability for tortoises due to longer and more frequent droughts.
The Seychelles giant tortoise population has reached a record 180,000, marking a significant conservation triumph for the island nation.
Invasive mammals remain a threat to the tortoises' survival, with feral cats and black rats preying on eggs and hatchlings, according to researchers. Eradicating these invasive species is crucial to lifting the remaining barriers to population growth and helping the tortoises withstand future climate pressures.
The conservation effort has been deemed successful in providing a baseline for tracking future change and informing management decisions, but it's clear that challenges lie ahead as the tortoises face increasing pressures from climate change, drought, and invasive species.
Facts based on reporting originally published by The Guardian World.
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