Mario Herz Fig. 27. The
Mario Herz Fig. 27. The enclosure for keeping Seychelles Giant Tortoises in Zurich Zoo (Masoala Hall). Fig. 28. The same enclosure like fig. 27 for keeping Seychelles Giant Tortoises in Zurich Zoo (Masoala Hall). Fig. 29. An enclosure for keeping Galápagos Giant Tortoises in Zurich Zoo; some Seychelles giant tortoises are temporarily kept here as well. 18 RADIATA 22 (4), 2013
Aldabra Giant Tortoise, Aldabrachelys gigantea gigantea suggests that a combined indoor/outdoor setup is most desirable that enables the animals to relocate between outdoors and indoors without needing the assistance of their keeper. In my care, Seychelles Giant Tortoises have proven to be very robust, inquisitive and lovable animals to keep – they have long become the favourites of the entire family. Ron Gerlach, a co-founder of the Seychelles Nature Conservation Station on the Seychelles island of Silhouette, penned (quoted from “Raising Happy Giant Tortoises“ [no date]): „Keeping giant tortoise can be a great pleasure. If you find it a chore, then you should think about selling or giving your tortoise away. Once you are the owner of a giant tortoise, you are its carer, its mother and its father. It relies on you entirely for its food, its housing and its well-being. Treat it with love and affection and it will love you and enjoy your attention and company for the rest of your life. No other animal can offer you that!“ I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all fellow keepers of giant tortoises who chose to remain anonymous yet made their data available to me. I am greatly indebted to Frank Köbis (Oberkrämer) for his caring for my animals when I went on holidays. References Austin, J., E. N. Arnold & R. Bour (2003): Was there a second adaptive radiation of giant tortoise in the Indian Ocean? Using mitochondrial DNA to investigate speciation and biogeography of Aldabrachelys (Reptilia, Testudinidae). – Mol. Ecol., Vancouver, 12 (6): 1415–1424. Coe, M. J., D. Bourn & I. R. Swingland (1979): The biomass production and carrying capacity of giant tortoises on Aldabra. – Philos. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B Biol. Sci., London, 286: 163–176. Ebersbach, K. (2001): Zur Biologie und Haltung der Aldabra-Riesenschildkröte (Geochelone gigantea) und der Galapagos-Riesenschildkröte (Geochelone elephantopus) in menschlicher Obhut unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Fortpflanzung. – Hannover (Inagural-Diss. Tierärztl. Hochschule), 226 pp. Furrer, S. C. (2007): 15 Jahre Erfahrung mit der Zucht der Galapagos-Riesenschildkröte im Zoo Zürich. – Marginata, Münster, 3 (4): 16–23. Gerlach, J. (2003): Ausgestorben geglaubte Riesenschildkröten wieder entdeckt – Herkunft und Erhaltung der Seychellen-Riesenschildkröten. – elaphe (N. F.), Rheinbach, 11 (2): 57–61. ––– (2004a): Schutz der Seychellen Riesenschildkröten. – Reptilia, Münster, 9 (6): 38–41. ––– (2004b): Die Seychellen-Riesenschildkröten. Ein Beitrag zum Naturschutz und zur Arterhaltung. – Marginata, Münster,1 (3): 36–43. ––– (2011): Closure of the Seychelles Giant Tortoise Conservation Project. – Radiata (English edition), Lingenfeld, 20 (4): 22–29. Gisler, R. (2003): Untersuchungen über die Verdauung bei Galapagos- Riesenschildkröten (Geochelone nigra, Quoy & Gaimard, 1824). – Testudo, Bubendorf, 12 (1): 7–15. Hambler, C. (1994): Giant tortoise Geochelone gigantea translocation to Curieuse Island (Seychelles): Success or failure? – Biol. Cons., Philadelphia, 69 (3): 293–299. Herz, M. (2010): Die Spornschildkröte Geochelone sulcata. – Münster (Natur und Tier – Verlag), 64 pp. Jöchler, H. (2008): Die letzten Paradiese, Aldabra. Die Arche Noah der Riesenschildkröten. – Haiming (MCP Sound & Media GmbH), Video DVD. Junghans, W. (1916): Die Riesenschildkröte (Testudo gigantea D. B.) im Berliner Aquarium. – Blätter Aqua. Terr.-kde., Stuttgart, 27 (3): 38–39. RADIATA 22 (4), 2013 19
