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UN Podcast - Together Far Apart: Esmeralda’s Story - Seychelles
Learn more about how the UN works with Seychelles to achieve the country’s development priorities.
This episode of Together Far Apart is narrated by Esmeralda – the oldest Aldabra tortoise in Seychelles. Thought to be around 170 years old, he (yes, despite the name he is a male) weighs over 304kg (670 pounds) and is considered the world’s biggest free-roaming tortoise. He tells the story of his life living on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, how his species has been taken to the brink of extinction and what is being done in Seychelles to ensure they live on.
IOTA Featured in Le Journal des Archipels
A recent article highlights a three-day symposium held in the Seychelles, focusing on the management and preservation of giant tortoises, particularly the Aldabra giant tortoise. The symposium emphasized the importance of these tortoises in island ecosystems and discussed initiatives like rewilding projects, translocation efforts, and the development of tortoise welfare policies in the Indian Ocean region.
Giant step forwards in genetic research
An article in Today News highlights IOTA's dedication to preserving the Aldabra giant tortoise and its significant role in Seychelles' ecosystems. It covers IOTA's conservation efforts, rewilding projects, and upcoming tortoise conservation workshop, emphasizing the importance of sustainability and public awareness in their mission.
IOTA gathers experts in Mahe for tortoise workshop
Researchers at the University of Zurich, in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance (IOTA), have successfully decoded the entire genome of the Aldabra giant tortoise. This breakthrough will enhance conservation efforts by ensuring high genetic diversity, aiding breeding programs, and supporting rewilding projects to protect these vulnerable tortoises.