By The European Times | Created at 2026-10-15 13:26:57 | Updated at 2026-10-15 14:29:57
1 hour ago
Nearly 183,000 giant tortoises inhabit the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. This is the highest number ever recorded for the species and the result of decades of conservation efforts. A new study shows that the population is healthy and remains relatively stable, though scientists warn that climate change and invasive animals continue to threaten its future.
The study was conducted by the Seychelles Islands Foundation (SIF) and the University of Exeter in the UK. Researchers analyzed tortoise census data collected over a five-year period—between 2018 and 2022. The results were published in the scientific journal *Ecology and Evolution* and provide the first comprehensive assessment of the atoll’s population since the late 1990s, *The Guardian* reported.
At that time, a widely cited estimate suggested that around 100,000 giant tortoises lived on Aldabra. The new study places the most likely figure at nearly 183,000 adult and sub-adult animals. This number exceeds the total human population of the island nation of Seychelles. Scientists emphasize, however, that the figure of nearly 183,000 does not mean the population has nearly doubled since the late 1990s. Earlier censuses did not account for animals that were present but remained hidden in the same way. Consequently, part of the discrepancy is attributable to the more accurate methodology, although the data also indicate a genuine population increase.
Despite these positive results, scientists warn that the future of the tortoises is not guaranteed. Aldabra’s climate is changing, with drought periods expected to become longer and more frequent. This could reduce the availability of food and the shaded areas the animals need to shelter from the heat.
Rising sea levels also pose a risk, particularly to the low-lying parts of the atoll. Changes to these habitats could place additional pressure on the population and complicate long-term conservation efforts.
Another issue involves invasive mammals—species introduced to the ecosystem that threaten native wildlife. Feral goats, which previously caused significant damage to vegetation, were successfully eradicated from the atoll in 2012. However, feral cats and black rats remain a threat, as they prey on tortoise eggs and hatchlings.
According to the study’s authors, the planned removal of the remaining invasive mammals could eliminate some of the final obstacles to the population’s continued recovery and help the animals better cope with future climate change.
Illustrative photo: pexels-itai-perelman-nasich-3817701-7340657
