Environment News

Giant Tortoise Population Recovery

October 19 , 2026 8 hrs 0 min 37 0

A 2026 survey estimated 180,000–183,000 Aldabra giant tortoises on Aldabra Atoll, more than Seychelles’ human population.
The survey was conducted by the Seychelles Islands Foundation and University of Exeter, using data collected from 2018–2022.
The Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea) is native to Aldabra Atoll, a coral atoll in the western Indian Ocean.
Aldabra Atoll became a Strict Nature Reserve in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
The population had fallen to fewer than 1,000 in the 19th century but recovered due to conservation efforts; threats include drought, sea-level rise and invasive species.