Thousands of Giant Tortoises Anchor a Thriving Ecosystem on Aldabra, a Remote Atoll in the Indian Ocean

Zoo mourns death of Othello, a giant tortoise that was ‘well over 100 years old’

The Saint Louis Zoo is mourning the death of one of its oldest residents – an Aldabra giant tortoise that was well over 100 years old.

Thousands of Giant Tortoises Anchor Thriving Ecosystem on Remote Atoll - WhoWhatWhy

Thousands of Giant Tortoises Anchor Thriving Ecosystem on Remote Atoll (Maria) The author writes, “Life on Aldabra atoll, on the western fringe of the Indian Ocean, moves at the pace of its oldest inhabitants. … On an atoll dominated by giant tortoises, the real work of ecosystem engineering begins at the back end of this slow-moving grazer. Aldabra’s tortoises — much like elephants — alter the landscape and create rich habitats for other life. …

Thousands of Giant Tortoises Anchor a Thriving Ecosystem on Aldabra, a Remote Atoll in the Indian Ocean

The animals graze the vegetation into a picturesque turf, fertilize the soil with their dung and disperse seeds over large distances