Back in the days, plenty of giant tortoises could be found on the many Indian Ocean islands. However, today only one type of such giant tortoises remain in Seychelles. Here’s some more information for you.
Ancient creatures
Most of these Indian ocean creatures were thought to be driven to extinction by European sailors due to overexploitation in 1840, except for the Aldabra giant tortoise. These species have been officially listed as ‘vulnerable’ by the International Union for Convention of Nature and have been protected under the Seychelles law since 1974.
Origins
These giant tortoises originated from the Aldabra Atoll, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1982. At present, there are over 152,000 Aldabra tortoises living on the atoll. Getting to this atoll is quite the challenge because it lies 715 miles away from Mahe and any trip must first be approved by the Seychelles Islands Foundation.
A chance to witness these creatures
Whether you’re staying at Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort & Casino or any of the other Seychelles hotels, you can ask around as to where the closest spot is to witness these ancient creatures that can live up to 180 years! You can also find these tortoises living in several enclosures across Seychelles.
