The newly opened Aldabra giant tortoise enclosure provides optimal well-being for the group with the addition of four tortoises rescued from the illegal wildlife trade. BIOPARC reinforces its commitment to biodiversity conservation and raises awareness about the threat posed by exotic species kept as pets. The Valencian park is one of the most important for observing these "living fossils," housing five different species, including two of the three largest land tortoises on the planet.
To contemplate the giant Aldabra tortoise, the second largest landmass in the worldIt's impressive; and if in the same park you can also see the third species, the African spurred tortoise, the peculiar leopard tortoise, the African shield tortoise, and the Home tortoise, the experience is unique. BIOPARC Valencia thus becomes one of the best specialized centers for discovering these reptiles that are authentic “living fossils”.
The giant tortoises of Aldabra
In addition to to bring the beauty of wild nature closer to raise awareness about its protection, BIOPARC de Fuengirola, Valencia and the Gijón Aquarium They play a fundamental role sheltering and providing the best care to animals that are victims of illegal trafficking. This is the case of four specimens of Aldabra tortoise (Giant tortoise) that already live with the pair that has inhabited BIOPARC since 2018. To guarantee the maximum well-being of the large group, a specific enclosure has been created with optimal conditions for them to develop their natural behaviors, which includes pine bark flooring and a design with areas of sun and shade.
Visitors can admire these enormous turtles in the new space with an exceptional location Very close to other giants, facing the elephant lake and next to the Kitum cave, with Spain's only underwater view of hippos. The size and weight of these reptiles, exceeding 100 kilograms, necessitated a complex logistical operation for their relocation and the coordination of a multidisciplinary team of biology and horticulture professionals to ensure the successful adaptation to their new home of the pair that shared the island of Madagascar with the lemurs.
BIOPARC Valencia receives four Aldabra tortoises from a seizure, victims of illegal trafficking
The four tortoises are between two and five years old and were confiscated. After being housed at the Amphibian and Reptile Recovery Center of Catalonia (CRARC), they were relocated to BIOPARC Valencia following the advice of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). After completing a quarantine period, they have successfully integrated into the new environment, and this action highlights the threat posed by keeping exotic species as pets, as well as the BIOPARC responsibility and commitment to biodiversity conservation.
Populations of this Indian Ocean species are concentrated on small islands, making this turtle especially vulnerable to extreme weather events and diseases. Red List The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains it listed as “vulnerable”, This highlights the importance of protecting their habitat and fighting against the wildlife trade..
Discover different species of turtles at BIOPARC Valencia
The Aldabra giants are not the only giants in the park. Just opposite them is the African spurred spurred spur (Centrochelys sulcata), considered the third largest continental tortoise in the world. BIOPARC Valencia offers the opportunity to see other species, such as the peculiar leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) opposite the meerkats and the African shield-tailed cat (Pelomedusa subrufa) and the articulated Home (Kinixys homeana) in a unique terrarium adapted to Africa's largest snake, the African python (Python sebae).
