ASIA’S LARGEST TORTOISE

Working deep in the rainforest, far away from the hustle and bustle of cities and urban areas, certainly has its perks! Our Post-Release Monitoring (PRM) team occasionally encounters animals that most people only get to see in zoos or museums. So, what special animal did our team find recently? 

Orangutans are often referred to as an umbrella species, meaning that, when its populations and habitats are protected, many other species that live in the same ecosystem are also protected. One species that lives in an orangutan habitat and enjoys such protection in the Kehje Sewen Forest is the Asian giant tortoise (Manouria emys emys). 

Our PRM team found an Asian giant tortoise during a patrol in October last year. This species can be found as far north as Bangladesh and India, but the subspecies the team encountered can only be found in the primary lowland forests of southern Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, and Borneo.

The Asian giant tortoise is the largest land tortoise in Asia, with a shell or carapace that is unique from that of other species. It has four strong, sturdy legs that are covered in rough scales, protecting it from thorns and countless sharp objects as it rummages through the undergrowth on the forest floor.

Staple foods for this tortoise are vegetation, but they are also known to occasionally prey on worms, snails, and other small animals. The Asian giant tortoise usually lays eggs twice a year, with 20-50 eggs per clutch (the term for one laying of eggs). It is also the only species of tortoise that lays its eggs in nests made of leaves, on the ground instead of underneath it.

The Asian giant tortoise has been declared as 'Critically Endangered' by the IUCN. Therefore, its wild populations are in dire need of protection.