Chatham Island Giant Tortoise
Chelonoidis chathamensis
Silhouette: Andrew A. Farke · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassTestudines
- FamilyTestudinidae (Tortoises)
- GenusChelonoidis (Galápagos Giant Tortoises and Allies)
- SpeciesChelonoidis chathamensis (Chatham Island Giant Tortoise)
About the Chatham Island Giant Tortoise
Chelonoidis niger chathamensis, commonly known as the Chatham Island giant tortoise or the San Cristóbal giant tortoise, is a subspecies of Galápagos tortoise endemic to San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos. The subspecies was heavily exploited and eliminated over much of its original range. Trampling of nests by feral donkeys, and the predation of hatchlings by feral dogs decimated populations, but the breeding program has led to successful releases.
Fencing of nests and dog eradication in the 1970s helped in the population recovery. Their population is thought to have dropped to as low as 500-700 individuals in the 1970s, and was around 24,000 prior to human contact. In a census conducted in November 2016, the population was found to be making a rapid recovery. A total of around 6,700 individuals were found, with around 2,700 mature adults and 3,750 juveniles.
Breeding centers such as the Galapaguera of Cerro Colorado were established in order to encourage captive reproduction of the endangered Galapagos tortoise. They were then released in their areas of origin to recover the wild populations.
It has a wide, black shell, its shape intermediate... Wikipedia →
Recent sightings of Chatham Island Giant Tortoise in Galápagos Islands
LIVEiNaturalistClosest Relatives at Galápagos Islands
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Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Galápagos Islands | 🇪🇨 Ecuador |
More parks will be added in future updates.
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Chatham Island Giant Tortoise in Galápagos Islands?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Chatham Island Giant Tortoise sighting in Galápagos Islands, based on 87 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Chatham Island Giant Tortoise in Galápagos Islands?
October has the highest sighting rate for Chatham Island Giant Tortoise in Galápagos Islands in our monthly data.