Fifty formerly captive Aldabra giant tortoises have been released onto an exclusive private island in the Seychelles. The move, which places the reptiles back in their native habitat, is a boost for biodiversity and a new chapter in the lives of these iconic gentle giants.
North Island is a small, tropical landmass north-west of the Seychelles’ main island, Mahé. Hundreds of years ago, thousands of Aldabra giant tortoises lived there, alongside an abundance of unique endemic species. Then humans arrived and trashed the ecosystem. As non-native species thrived, the tortoise population plummeted.
In 1997, when private investors bought the island for ecotourism and rewilding, few giant tortoises were left. This meant the ecosystem services they once provided, such as seed dispersal and enriching the soil, were also absent. Since then, people from neighbouring islands have been donating their tortoises to the Island, to help restore the native ecosystem.
Most recently, 50 Aldabra giant tortoises from Mahé have been released, as part of a project led by the Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance (IOTA) and North Island Environment Department.
Many of the reptiles were cherished family companions. Donors describe giving them up as emotional but meaningful, an act of responsibility towards future generations. “After careful reflection, I decided to relocate my tortoises from a sheltered home to a more natural space,” says Savita Parrekh, who lives in Mahé. “True care means enabling animals to thrive the way nature intended. I’m proud they can now help restore an island.”
Before the tortoises left Mahé, they were microchipped for the national tortoise census and fed only native leaves to prevent the spread of invasive plant species via their droppings. They underwent two quarantines, one in Mahé and one on North Island, before taking their first steps into their new wild home.
Now, every day, they walk a little farther and explore a little more. “After months of planning, seeing them walk free was incredibly rewarding,” says IOTA assistant project officer Santosh Albert.
The new recruits bring the number of Aldabra giant tortoises now living on North Island to well over 200. Hopes are high that the new arrivals will settle in and breed, as former arrivals have done before them. Albert adds; “Moments like that remind you why conservation matters, because these islands are our home and keeping them healthy benefits us all.”
Top image: Aldabra giant tortoise walking on North Island. Credit: Rich Baxter/IOTA Seychelles
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