Dusit zoo introduces giant tortoises

BANGKOK, April 26 (TNA) – Dusit zoo in Bangkok unveiled Aldabra Giant tortoises, the world’s second largest tortoise after the Galapagos tortoise. Four new members were given to the zoo by public members. They are aged about 8-12 years. The male tortoises weigh about 250 kilogrammes and its carapace is about 120 centimetres long while the female tortoise is smaller, weighing about 150 kilogrammes with about 90-centimetre-long carapace. It can live over 100 years. Aldabra tortoise is endemic to Aldabra of the Seychelles Islands in the western Indian Ocean. It lays about 10-25 eggs per clutch. The Aldabra tortoise is in the red list of the International Union of Conservation of Nature as threatened species. It is rare species, worthwhile seeing. In Thailand, about 12 Aldabra tortoises are displayed in the zoos, run by the Zoological park Department while 669 Aldabra tortoises live in the zoos, registered in the system worldwide. (TNA)