Far out in the Indian Ocean, there is a remote part of Africa where giant tortoises vastly outnumber people.
Aldabra Atoll, part of Seychelles, is home to around 152,000 giant tortoises.
It is the world’s largest population of giant tortoises.
The animals live freely across Aldabra’s largely untouched landscape, making the atoll one of the most important remaining homes for the species.
A natural refuge for giant tortoises
Aldabra is one of the world’s largest raised coral atolls.
It consists of four main coral islands surrounding a shallow lagoon. The landscape includes mangroves, grasslands, beaches and coral reefs.
Its remote location has helped protect it from large-scale human development.
As a result, giant tortoises can move freely across much of the atoll. They mainly feed on grasses, leaves and other vegetation.
The tortoises also play an important role in shaping the local ecosystem.
Why are there so many tortoises?
Giant tortoises once lived on several islands across the Indian Ocean.
However, many populations disappeared following centuries of human activity.
Aldabra remained relatively isolated. This helped its giant tortoise population survive on a remarkable scale.
Today, the population is self-sustaining. The animals reproduce naturally and remain a major part of the atoll’s ecosystem.
Aldabra is home to much more
The giant tortoises may be Aldabra’s most famous residents, but they are far from the only unusual animals found there.
The atoll provides an important habitat for green and hawksbill sea turtles.
It is also home to the white-throated rail, the last surviving flightless bird in the western Indian Ocean.
Flamingos and large colonies of frigatebirds can also be found around the atoll.
A protected part of Seychelles
Aldabra became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982.
Strict protection and its remote location have helped preserve much of its natural environment.
Human presence remains limited compared with many other islands in Seychelles.
That means thousands of giant tortoises continue to move through Aldabra much as they have for generations.
With around 152,000 of them living there, Aldabra remains one of Africa’s most unusual wildlife environments.