Asian Giant Tortoise Manouria emys

Asian Giant Tortoise Manouria emys

Critically Endangered

Extant (resident): Bangladesh; India; Indonesia; Malaysia; Myanmar; Thailand

Extinct: Singapore

The Asian Giant Tortoise, Asia’s largest tortoise species, is distinguished by their impressive size and unique nesting behaviours. Inhabiting evergreen forests, they play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem health through seed dispersal. However, their populations are rapidly declining due to habitat destruction, particularly from deforestation for palm oil plantations, and illegal hunting for local consumption and the pet trade.

Protecting the Asian Giant Tortoise is vital for preserving the biodiversity of Southeast Asia’s forests. Fight for their survival by boycotting products linked to deforestation. Use your wallet as a weapon. #BoycottPalmOil #Boycott4Wildlife

Appearance and Behaviour

The Asian Giant Tortoise is the largest tortoise in Asia, with adults reaching up to 61 cm (24 inches) in shell length and weighing up to 35 kg (77 lbs). They have a dark brown to black carapace and sturdy limbs covered with rough scales, aiding in navigating dense forest floors.

A unique behaviour of this species is their nesting practice. Females construct nests by gathering leaf litter and decomposing plant material into a mound, where they lay their eggs. This method helps regulate incubation temperatures and protects the eggs from predators.

Geographic Range

Historically, the Asian Giant Tortoise ranged across Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Thailand. Due to extensive habitat loss and poaching, their populations have significantly declined, and they are now primarily found in fragmented forested regions within these countries.

Diet

These tortoises are primarily herbivorous, feeding on a variety of vegetation, including leaves, fruits, and grasses. Occasionally, they may consume invertebrates such as worms and snails. Their foraging habits contribute to seed dispersal, playing a vital role in forest regeneration.

Reproduction and Mating

Breeding typically coincides with the monsoon season. Females build large nests from leaf litter to lay clutches of 20–50 eggs. Interestingly, studies have shown that mimicking rainfall and thunder can stimulate egg-laying in captive individuals, highlighting the species’ sensitivity to environmental cues.

Threats

The Asian Giant Tortoise is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with populations continuing to decline. Conservation efforts focus on habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and captive breeding programs aimed at reintroducing individuals into the wild. Organisations such as the Turtle Survival Alliance are actively involved in these initiatives.

IUCN Status: Critically Endangered

Habitat Destruction for palm oil and timber: Deforestation for agriculture, particularly palm oil plantations, logging, and human settlement, has led to significant habitat loss for the Asian Giant Tortoise.

Illegal Hunting: They are poached for local consumption and the international pet trade, further driving population declines.

Climate Change: Alterations in monsoon patterns can disrupt their breeding cycles, affecting reproductive success.

Take Action!

Protect the Asian Giant Tortoise by boycotting products linked to deforestation, such as palm oil. Support conservation organisations working to preserve their habitats and enforce anti-poaching laws. Share their story and advocate for their survival with #BoycottPalmOil and #Boycott4Wildlife.

Further Information

Choudhury, B.C., Cota, M., McCormack, T., Platt, K., Das, I., Ahmed, M.F., Timmins, R.J., Rahman, S. & Singh, S. 2019. Manouria emys (errata version published in 2019). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T12774A152052098. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-1.RLTS.T12774A152052098.en. Downloaded on 25 January 2021

Orangutan Foundation International. (2022). Asia’s Largest Tortoise. Retrieved from Orangutan Foundation International

Reptiles Magazine. (2024). Echoes of Rain: How Mimicking Rainfall and Thunder Caused Asian Giant Tortoises to Lay Eggs. Retrieved from Reptiles Magazine

Turtle Survival Alliance. (2023). Species Spotlight: Asian Giant Tortoise. Retrieved from Turtle Survival Alliance

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