Aldabra Giant Tortoises UK

 

I am currently updating and adding more articles to the website, so some items may move unexpectedly. I will try to minimise the disruption as this is carried out. An updated index will be added when this is complete.

 

 

1.HOME

2. ABOUT ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISES UK

INDEX OF ARTICLES ON THE WEBSITE

GLOSSARY OF TORTOISE TERMS

3. HOW IT ALL BEGAN

WHAT’S IT LIKE LIVING WITH GIANTS

 

4. WHERE IS ALDABRA?

WHERE DID THE TORTOISES COME FROM BEFORE THEY LANDED ON ALDABRA?

EVOLUTION OF DIPSOCHELYS DUSSUMIIERI (AKA THE ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE)

RECENT HISTORY

HOW LONG HAS ALDABRA ATOLL BEEN AROUND COMPARED TO THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS?

HOW LONG HAS ALDABRA BEEN POPULATED BY TORTOISES?

WHAT IS THE CLIMATE LIKE ON ALDABRA?

HOW MUCH RAIN DO THEY GET ON ALDABRA?

DO A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO ALDABRA ATOLL?

DOES ALDABRA LOOK LIKE THE PICTURES THAT YOU SEE ON THE INTERNET?

HOW MANY PLANE RIDES DOES IT TAKE TO GET TO ALDABRA?

CAN I REALLY VISIT ALDABRA?

 

5. ALDABRA TORTOISES IN THE WILD

WHAT ARE THE SCIENTIFIC NAMES FOR ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISES?

WHAT IS THE ALDABRA ISLAND GROUP?

HOW WOULD THEY SPEND THEIR DAY IN THE WILD?

WHAT IS THEIR NATURAL HABITAT?

WHAT DOES THE HABITAT ON ALDABRA CONSIST OF?

HOW MUCH OF EACH TERRAIN AND LIFE IS THERE ON ALDABRA?

WHAT IS THE HIGHEST POINT ON ALDABRA?

HOW BIG IS THE LAGOON AND DO THEY USE IT A LOT?

HOW MANY TORTOISES ON ALDABRA AND WHERE DO THEY LIVE

WHY DO TORTOISES ONLY LIVE ON CERTAIN PARTS OF ALDABRA ATOLL?

IS THERE A PHYSICAL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TORTOISE THAT LIVE ON THE ALDABRA ATOLL?

ARE THERE ANY OTHER SPECIES OF TORTOISE ON ALDABRA?

HOW DID ALDABRA TORTOISES MANAGE TO SURVIVE WHEN SO MANY OTHER GIANT TORTOISE SPECIES WERE POACHED TO EXTINCTION?

DID OLD FASHIONED SAILORS JUST TAKE THEM FOR THEIR MEAT?

HAVE THEY CHANGE MUCH AS A SPECIES?

HOW MANY SUB SPECIES OF ALDABRA TORTOISE ARE THERE?

ARE ALDABRA TORTOISES ENDANGERED?

DO THEY HAVE ANY PREDATORS?

AS THEY ARE AN ISLAND SPECIES, DO THEY SWIM?

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN ALDABRA TORTOISE IS WASHED OFF THE ISLAND INTO THE SEA?

WHAT ARE THE MAIN THREATS TO TORTOISES IN THE WILD?

IS ILEGAL WILDLIFE TRADE A SERIOUS PROBLEM?

WHAT IS CITES?

HOW MANY TORTOISES DIE ON ALDABRA?

DO ALDABRA TORTOISES HUNT?

DO ALDABRA TORTOISES MIGRATE?

WHY DO THEY MIGRATE?

ARE ALDBRA TORTOISES TERRITORIAL?

HAVE GIANT TORTOISES ALWAYS BEEN TOP OF THE FOOD CHAIN ? HAVE THERE NEVER BEEN ANY PREDATORS ON ALDABRA?

HOW MANY ISLANDS IN THE SYCHELLES HAVE TORTOISES?

HOW ARE ALDABRA TORTOISES ACTIVELY BEING USED AS ECO ENGINEERS IN THE WILD?

 

6. CLIMATE CHANGE, LOCAL THREATS AND HOW IT IS GOING TO AFFECT THE ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE IN THE WILD

HOME OF THE ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE

DIRECT EFFECTS OF A RISE IN SEA LEVELS ON ALDABRA.

DIRECT EFFECTS OF HIGHER TEMPERATURES ON ALDABRA.

INCREASE IN WIND SPEEDS EFFECT ON ALDABRA

EL NINO SOUTHERN OSILATION EFFECT

THE CLOSER ENCROACHMENT OF HUMANS TO ALDABRA ATOLL

PLASTIC POLLUTION

24 HOURS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD

A MODERN THREAT ASTEROID YR4 2024

 

7. THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE THREE GIANTS

THE SULCATA OR AFRICAN SPURRED TORTOISE

THE ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE

THE GALAPAGOS GIANT TORTOISE

 

8. EVOLUTION 

A CHART TO SHOW ALDABRAS EVOLUTION, IN CONTEXT.

 

9. HOW CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY TORTOISE?

SOME WEBSITES AND FORUMS THAT MIGHT HELP YOU BEGIN YOUR RESEARCH AND KNOWLEDGE.

WHERE CAN I SEE ALDABRA TORTOISES IN THE UK?

 

10. INFORMATION ON ALDABRA TORTOISE REPRODUCTION

WHERE ARE THE OLDEST ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISES?

WHERE DOES THE OLDEST ALDABRAGIANT TORTOISE IN EUROPE LIVE?

WHERE DOES THE OLDEST ALDABRA IN BRITISH ISLES LIVE?

HOW MANY BABIES SURVIVE TO ADULT HOOD?

HAVE YOU BRED ANY?

DO THEY BREED WELL IN THE WILD?

HAVE THEY BEEN BRED IN THE REST OF THE WORLD?

WHY DO THEY NOT BREED IN THE UK?

ARE THEY MARRIED?

ARE OUR ALDABRAS RELATED?

SCIENTISTS HAVE DECODED THE DNA OF ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISES.

HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SEXES?

MY ALDABRA TORTOISES CARAPACE SHAPE DOES NOT MATCH YOUR PICTURES IS THERE ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT?

DO TORTOISE HAVE PERIODS?

DO MALE ALDABRA TORTOISES HAVE TESTES?

WHAT IS A HEMIPENIS?

DO FEMALES HAVE OVARIES?

REPRODUCTION

WHEN IS ALDABRA TORTOISE SEXUAL MATURITY?

DO THEY ALWAYS LAY THE SAME NUMBER OF EGGS?

THE IMPORTANCE OF HUMIDITY FOR BABIES?

HOW BIG ARE THE ALDABRA BABIES?

WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG FOR A GIANT TORTOISE TO HATCH?

COULD ALDABRA TORTOISE EGGS ACTUALLY HATCH NATURALLY IN THE UK?

DO FEMALE ALDABRAS HAVE ANY CHOICE ABOUT WHETHER THEY GET PREGNANT OR NOT?

IS NESTING ALWAYS SUCESSFUL?

ARE THERE NATURAL THREATS TO THE NEW HATCHLINGS ON ALDABRA?

OVER POPULATION IN THE WILD

 

11. INFORMATION ON TORTOISE BODY

IS IT A TURTLE?

IS IT A SNAPPING TURTLE? I WANT ONE OF THOSE.

IS AN ALDABRA LIKE A NORMAL TORTOISE?

DO THEY HAVE TEETH?

DO THEY CHEW THEIR FOOD?

HOW MUCH DO THEY EAT?

WHY DO THEY DEVELOP LUMPY OR PYRAMIDING SHELLS?

DO THEY DRINK A LOT?

WHY DO THEY SOMETIMES LIFT THEIR BACKEND UP WHEN IT IS RAINING?

THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

HOW LONG DOES FOOD TAKE TO PROCESS THROUGH AN ALDABRA IN THE WILD?

DO THEY HAVE AN EFFECTIVE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM?

DO THEY HAVE A TAIL?

LETS TALK ABOUT POO

HOW MUCH POO CAN THEY PRODUCE

WHY DO THEY EAT POO?

DO ALDABRA TORTOISES BREAK WIND?

WHY DO THEY HAVE A LONG NECK?

DO THEY HAVE EARS?

DO THEY HAVE A GOOD SENSE OF SMELL?

DO THEY HAVE GOOD EYESIGHT?

CAN ALDABRA TORTOISES “HEAR” THROUGH THEIR FEET?

CAN THEY SENSE THE WEATHER?

WHY DO ALDABRAS NOT FEED AT NIGHT?

THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM

WHAT IS THEIR RESPIRATORY RATE?

WHAT IS THEIR HEART BEAT?

DO TORTOISE HAVE BLOOD?

WHAT IS AN ALDABRA BODY MADE UP OF?

HOW HEAVY ARE THE BITS OF AN ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE?

WHERE ARE THEIR KIDNEYS?

HOW MANY BONES DOES A TORTOISE HAVE

DO TORTOISES HAVE CLAWS?

WHY DO TORTOISES HAVE SCALES?

WHY HAVE ALDABRA TORTOISES GROWN SO LARGE?

ARE THEY STRONG?

HOW BIG DO THEY GET?

HOW MUCH DO THEY GROW IN A YEAR?

HOW HEAVY ARE THEY?

HOW DOES THE SHELL HELP WITH SEED DISPERSAL?

WHAT IS THE SHELL MADE OF?

HOW MANY SEGMENTS DO TORTOISE SHELLS HAVE?

CAN THEY FEEL THROUGH THEIR SHELL?

CAN A TORTOISE COME OUT OF IT'S SHELL?

HOW HARD IS A TORTOISE SHELL?

WHY DOES MY ALDABRA HAVE A SPLIT 5TH VERTEBRAL SCUTE?

WHAT IS UNDER THE SHELL?

HOW HEAVY IS THE SHELL?

WHY DO THEY TURN AWAY FROM THE SUN WHEN EATING?

CAN THE SHELL REPAIR ITSELF?

MY ALDABRA TORTOISE HAS NOT GOT A NUCHAL SCUTE, DOES THAT MEAN IT IS REALLY A GLAPAGOS GIANT TORTOISE?

 

 

Page 12 INFORMATION ON ALDABRA TORTOISE HEALTH

ARE THEY REPTILES?

HAVE THEIR ALWAYS BEEN GIANT TORTOISES ON EARTH?

WHAT IS TORTOISE HUSBANDRY?

DO THEY LIKE HOT WEATHER?

HOW HOT IS TOO HOT FOR AN ALDABRA TORTOISE?

WHY DO THEY LIKE SITTING IN A MUUD WALLOW?

CAN A TORTOISE GO OUTSIDE BEFORE IT IS 3 YEARS OLD?

WHY DO A LOT OF ZOOS KEEP THEIR ALDABRA TORTOISES INSIDE ALL OF THE TIME?

WHY DO TORTOISES PUT THEIR BACKS TO THE SUN WHEN BASKING?

CAN A TORTOISE DIE IF ROLLS ONTO ITS BACK?

WHY ARE TORTOISES DIFFERENT COLOURS

WHY DO THESE LOOK A DIFFERENT COLOUR TO PICTURES YOU SEE FROM THE WILD?

WHAT DO THEY NEED FOR GOOD SHELL GROWTH??

HOW IS THE SHELL SO STRONG?

WHY DO THEY NEED TO SPEND TIME UNDER SPECIAL LAMPS?

WHAT SUPPLEMENTS DO ALDABRA TORTOISES NEED?

HOW CAN I GET MORE CALCIUM NTO THEIR DIET?

DO ALDABRA TORTOISES HIBERNATE?

CAN THEY ACTUALLY SWIM? AN EXPERIMENT

WHY DO ALDABRA TORTOISES STAND UP WHEN YOU TICKLE THEIR NECK?

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO INTERACT WITH YOUR ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE?

HOW TO ENCOURAGE YOUR ALDABRA TORTOISE TO FINCH

DO YOU PUT ANYTHING ON THE SKIN?

DO YOU CLIP BEAKS AND TOE NAILS?

DO THEY BITE?

WHY DO THEY HISS?

CAN YOU SIT ON THEM?

HOW FAST CAN THEY WALK?

WHY DOES MY ALDABRA DANCE AROUND WITH ITS BACK LEGS AND REFUSE TO WALK FORWARDS, IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT?

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN MY TORTOISE IS NOT FEELING WELL?

DIFFICULTY IN GETTING A BLOOD SAMPLE

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A TORTOISE IS DEHYDRATED? 

CAN A TORTOISE DRINK THROUGH ITS BOTTOM?

CAN AN ALDABRA DRINK THROUGH ITS NOSE?

DO YOU WORM YOUR TORTOISES?

CAN TORTOISES GET TICKS?

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN MY TORTOISE IS TOO COLD?

WHAT TO DO WITH AN ILL TORTOISE

SHOULD I GET INSURANCE?

MY ALDABRA IS NOT GROWING WHAT AM I DOING WRONG?

ARE THERE ANY EFFECTS FROM INBREEDING?

 

 GENERAL TORTOISE INFORMATION

WHAT IS A GROUP OF TORTOISES CALLED?

DO I NEED A LICENSE TO KEEP AN ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE?

DO ALDABRA TORTOISES TRAVEL WELL? HOW DO YOU TRANSPORT THEM?

WHY DO WE TAKE OUR TORTOISES TO VARIOUS SHOWS IN THE UK?

DO ALDABRA TORTOISES HAVE PERSONALITIES?

ARE ALDBRA TORTOISES INTELLIGENT?

DO ALDABRA TORTOISES HAVE A HIERARCHY?

CAN ALDABRA TORTOISES COMMUNICATE WITH EACH OTHER?

CAN THEY GET BORED?

IS STIMULATION IMPORTANT?

CAN THEY REALLY SLEEP 18 HOURS A DAY?

DON’T ACCEPT YOU TUBE VIDEOS AS GOSPEL

WHEN WERE TORTOISES FIRST BROUGHT TO THIS COUNTRY?

ARE TORTOISE PRODUCTS REALLY MADE OF TORTOISE SHELL?

WHAT WAS THE LARGEST SHELLED ANIMAL FOUND IN THE UK?

DEATH BY TORTOISE

GROSS BUT INTERESTING

HOW DO YOU COOK A TORTOISE?

WHAT DO THEY TASTE LIKE?

CAN YOU EAT TORTOISE EGGS?

WHEN IS WORLD TURTLE DAY?

EARLY CUSTOMS

 

13. FEEDING

WHAT DO THEY EAT?

DO YOU FEED THEM TORTOISE PELLETS?

HOW MUCH DO THEY GROW IN A YEAR?

HOW BIG DO THEY GET?

14. WHAT CAN I FEED MY TORTOISE?

HERE ARE SOME OF THE PLANTS THAT GROW NATURALLY IN THE UK AND ARE SUITABLE FOR ALL ALDABRA, SULCATA AND ‘GARDEN TYPE' TORTOISES TO EAT.

MILK THISTLE

OXEYE DAISY

HORSERADDISH

PLANTAIN

OX TONGUE

MALLOW

STICKYWEED

DANDELION

BROAD LEAF PLANTAIN

THISTLE

ELDERFLOWER

POPPIES

 

ARE BUTTERCUPS SAFE FOR TORTOISES TO EAT?

 

15. SHOULD I GET A TORTOISE? 

SHOULD I GET AN ALDABRA?

HAVE I GOT THE SPACE FOR ONE?

HAVE I GOT TIME FOR ONE?

HAVE I GOT ENOUGH MONEY TO LOOK AFTER IT PROPERLY?

ARE THEY VALUABLE?

DO I HAVE ENOUGH SUPPORT TO LOOK AFTER ONE?

DO YOU WANT A TORTOISE TO LOOK AFTER?

ANY ALTERNATIVES TO AN ALDABRA?

 

16. WHERE CAN I BUY A TORTOISE?

       REPTILE SHOWS

 

17. SULCATA OR ALDABRA? WHICH SHOULD I GET?

       CAN I KEEP THEM TOGETHER?

WHO GETS BIGGER?

WHICH LOOKS NICER?

ARE THEY BOTH CREPUSCULAR?

WHO IS MORE ACTIVE?

WHO IS MORE FRIENDLY?

ARE THEY HERBIVORES?

WHICH ONE IS EASIER TO BUY?

DO BOTH SPECIES DIG AND BURROW?

WHO WOULD WIN IN A TUG OF WAR?

WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?

DO THEY HAVE PREDATORS?

ARE THEY AN ENDANGERED SPECIES?

CONSERVATION

WHY ARE YOU TELLING US TO ONLY KEEP ONE SULCATA WHEN YOU CLEARLY HAVE MORE?

WHICH WOULD YOU RECOMMEND?

SULCATA PLUS POINTS:

SULCATA BAD POINTS

ALDABRA PLUS POINTS

ALDABRA BAD POINTS

 

18. TORTOISE REHOMING CENTRES

 

19. INFORMATION ABOUT A10 CERTIFICATES

IF YOU ALREADY HAVE A TORTOISE

IF YOU HAVE HATCHED THE ANNEX A SPECIES TORTOISE YOURSELF, AND ARE KEEPING IT.

IF YOU HAVE HATCHED THE TORTOISE YOURSELF AND YOU ARE SELLING IT OR GIVING IT AWAY FOR A DONATION.

IF YOU PLAN TO BREED YOUR TORTOISES FOR MONEY

IF YOU ARE BUYING A TORTOISE HATCHLING UNDER 100MM

IF YOU ARE GOING TO SELL THIS TORTOISE AGAIN WHILST IT IS UNDER 100MM

IF YOU ARE BUYING A TORTOISE OVER 100MM

HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN TSC AND SSC A10’S

FOR A TRANSACTION SPECIFIC CERTIFICATE (TSC)- ANIMALS UNDER 100MM

FOR A SPECIMEN SPECIFIC CERTIFICATE (SSC)- ANIMALS OVER 100MM

 

20. TO MICROCHIP OR NOT TO MICROCHIP?

         TORTOISE FINGERPRINTING

 

21. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THINGS DON’T GO TO PLAN

HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN

 

22. COMMON TORTOISE AILMENTS AND HUSBANDRY ISSUES

         COMMON REASONS YOUR TORTOISE IS FEELING POORLY

         INITIAL CHECK LIST FOR IF YOUR TORTOISE IS ILL

         SEVERE TORTOISE ISSUES

        COMMON TORTOISE AILMENTS

        RUNNY NOSE

        STOMATITIS

       CONSTIPATION

       DIARRHOEA

       VOMITING

       ABSCESSES, CUTS AND GRAZES

       DEHYDRATION

       SHELL ROT

       BRUMATION AND ESTIVA / AESTIVATION

      OVERGROWN BEAK AND NAILS

      SHELL PYRAMIDING AKA MBD / METABOLLIC BONE DISEASE

      TICKS

      WORMS

      DEPRESSION / LETHARGY

      UNDEERFEEDING

      OVER FEEDING AND OVER WATERING

      IMPROPER DIET

      POOR ENVIRONMENT

      STRESS

      ILLNESS AND INJURIES

     DAMAGE TO THEIR SHELL

     DROWNING

     PREDATION

     HOUSEHOLD ACCIDENTS

 

23. EXOTICS VETS IN THE UK

 

24. WHAT TO DO IF YOUR TORTOISE DIES

       WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOUR TORTOISE IS DEAD

       SIGNS OF LIFE CHECKS

       IF YOU FIND YOUR TORTOISE AND THINK IT MIGHT HAVE DIED

       DO DEAD TORTOISES SMELL?

       STAGES OF DECOMPOSITION

       WHAT TO DO WITH A DEAD TORTOISE

                        CHOOSE CAREFULLY WHAT TO DO WITH THE BODY

                        IF YOU WANT TO KEEP THE SHELL

 

25. THE EXETER ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISES 2024

         THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION

 

27. CAN YOU HELP?

 

28. WITH THANKS TO

IN MEMORANDUM

 

29. R U AN ALDABRA KEEPER?

       30. ARE YOU A UK ALDABRA KEEPER OR OWNER? IF YOU ARE, YOUR SPECIES NEEDS YOU.

             JOIN THE ARMY

            APPLICATION FORM

            ABOUT THE UK ALDABRA TORTOISE ARMY

 

 

31. RECOMMENDATIONS OF WHAT TO CONSIDER PUTTING IN YOUR TORTOISE PEN & HOUSE

IMPORTANT THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN PLANNING A NEW TORTOISE HOUSE.

LOCATION-

IN THE PEN

PLANTS

HOUSE

WATER

ROOFING

FLOORING

ELECTRICS

OTHER PETS

 

32. PASS ON THE KNOWLEDGE

      TROLLEY

      PALLET TRUCKS

      SACK TROLLEY

      WATER EQUIPMENT

      HORSE AUTOFILL WATER BOWL

      HOIST

      CUSHION OR TYPRE

 

33. DID YOU KNOW?

 

34. THE OLDEST TORTOISES IN THE WORLD

THE CURRENT OLDEST LIVING TORTOISE, IN CAPTIVITY, IN THE WORLD

POSSIBLY THE OLDEST FREE ROAMING ALDABRA GIANT TORTOISE ALIVE

THE OLDEST GALAPAGOS TORTOISE KNOWN

POSSIBLY THE OLDEST TORTOISE EVER

THE OLDEST SULCATA TORTOISE KNOWN

THE OLDEST HERMAN TORTOISE

THE OLDEST SPUR-THIGHED TORTOISE

 

35.10 BIGGEST TORTOISE SPECIES IN THE WORLD- TO THE SMALLEST

THE SMALLEST BREED OF TORTOISE

 

36. BREEDS OF TORTOISE IN THE WORLD

 

37. GIANTS OF THE PAST

MEGALOCHELYS

TITANOCHELON

 

38. A BIT OF FUN 

       39. WHAT IS AS HEAVY AS SAMSON?

 

40. WHEN SAMSON MET...

 

41. CAN YOU SPOT?

 

42. CAN THE TORTOISES ATTEND MY SHOW PLEASE?

CONTACT FORM

 

43. INFORMATION FOR SCHOOLS

DOWNLOADABLE INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS ANSWERING THE QUIZ

DOWNLOADABLE QUESTIONS FOR THE QUIZ

DOWNLOADABLE QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS FOR THE QUIZ

DOWNLOADABLE INTERNAL DIAGRAM OF TORTOISE

DOWNLOADABLE NAMED DIAGRAM OF TORTOISE SHELL SCUTES

INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE ANSWERING THE TORTOISE QUIZ

 

44. HOW CAN WE HELP?

CONTACT FORM

SULCATA TORTOISE

 

45. CONTACT

 

46. DONATE TO THE TORTOISES