Gentle Giant

The Aldabra tortoise reaches weights of over 500 pounds for males and over 300 pounds for females, making it the second largest tortoise in the world behind the Galapagos tortoise.

Opportunistic Nutrition

This large tortoise is adaptable and opportunistic, and will consume small invertebrates as well as carrion if its customary vegetation is not available. In their native habitats, they are known to knock down shrubs and favored trees to obtain leaves. They are the largest animal species in their range, and are a keystone species for seed dispersal. Seeds passing through their feces becomes nutrition for other species.

 

To learn more, download the Aldabra Tortoise fact sheet.