Scientists have counted nearly 183,000 giant tortoises on Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles — more than the entire population of the country, infohub.kz reports.
Researchers conducted a large-scale reassessment of the giant tortoise population on Aldabra Atoll. They found that about 183,000 adults and juveniles inhabit the area. The new figure significantly exceeds previous estimates of 100,000 individuals, but the authors note that this is not a sharp increase in numbers, but rather the result of more accurate counting methods. Previously, many animals went unnoticed due to dense vegetation and shade.
In the 19th century, uncontrolled hunting reduced the giant tortoise population on Aldabra to fewer than 1,000 individuals. The situation changed after the atoll was declared a strict nature reserve and later added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Currently, the population is considered stable and healthy.
Despite the recovery, the reptiles face new threats. Prolonged droughts reduce food and shelter, rising ocean levels threaten the atoll's low-lying areas, and feral cats and black rats destroy eggs and young tortoises.