Aldabra atoll

Aldabra Atoll is one of the outer islands in The Republic of  Seychelles chain.  It's about 21 miles long and 9 miles wide with a landmass of 155.3 square miles. The island is currently a UNESCO World Heritage protected site, as well as 12 miles from it's shores. What attracted me to this island isn't just it's undeniable natural beauty, but it's beasts :).  The island is home to the Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys Gigantea or Dipsochelys Dussumieri). At present, there are an estimated 100,000 of these giant tortoises on the island (with only 150,000 giant tortoises worldwide). The current ratio of 10,000:1 (tortoise to man) is quite amazing, however the island is mostly uninhabited by humans. It's similar in size to the Galapagos giant tortoise, measuring up to 550 pounds in weight and 35 inches in length. The are social creatures and spend time in herds, as well as alone.  They enjoy the mornings during which they scavenge for food then burrow underground or rest in the swamps during the heat of the day. Like most tortoises, then tend to be slow yet they can speed it up as needed :). However, unlike many tortoises, they are known for rising on their hind legs to reach low branches, hence they've been given the name, "ninjas" of the tortoise world. This is a dangerous feat for tortoises as falling backwards may result in death (righting themselves may be impossible). Aldabra was the birthplace Esmeralda, at age 170, she is currently the world's oldest living giant tortoise. However, it is believed that some may be as old as 200 years yet it is difficult to verify. Adwaita, who was brought from the Seychelles to a Zoo in India reached the age of 255.. impressive! Oddly enough, the Albadra tortoises do swim :). It's hard to imagine 100,000 giant tortoises roaming around and swimming beside such a small island.