Introduction

Geochelone gigantea, the Aldabra giant tortoise, is one of the largest tortoises in the world.The Aldabra giant tortoise lives on the remote Aldabra atoll, one of the Seychelles group of islands in the Indian Ocean.The Aldabra giant tortoise's current IUCN conservation status is 'vulnerable' to extinction. Many giant tortoise species around the world have become extinct due to

• hunting
• habitat loss
• introduced predatory species such as dogs, rats and pigs that eat tortoise eggs and babies.

The Aldabra tortoise almost suffered the same fate, but its plight was recognised just in time, and its bleak Aldabra atoll home is now a World Heritage Site. However, the Aldabra atoll is only a few metres above sea level so the wild tortoises are now being threatened by climate change and rising sea levels.To aid conservation, the giant tortoises are also being bred in captivity in reserves on the islands of Mauritius and Rodrigues, where they are thriving.