Aldabra Giant Tortoise
Habitat: Reptiles
Perhaps one of Zoo Knoxville’s best-known and beloved animal ambassadors is Big Al, the giant Aldabra tortoise. Weighing in at 525 pounds and estimated to be at least 150 years old, Al is one of three males and two female Aldabra tortoises that live at the zoo. Aldabra tortoises are the second-largest species of tortoise on Earth, second only to the Galapagos tortoise.
Did You Know?
Location
Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles
Aldabra is a raised coral atoll close to Africa in the Indian Ocean. The islands are not easy to access, and this is one of the reasons it still has the largest population of giant tortoises in the world. The last survey estimates the population to be steady at 152,000 animals. Their greatest threat is climate change. The highest point on the atoll is only 26ft above sea level, making them vulnerable to rising sea levels.