Survey of feeding practices and nutrition of captive giant Aldabra tortoise (Geochelone gigantea) populations in European (EAZA) and Australasian (ZAA) institutions

Citation

Harrold D and Plowman A. 2019. Survey of feeding practices and nutrition of captive giant Aldabra tortoise (Geochelone gigantea) populations in European (EAZA) and Australasian (ZAA) institutions. In Brooks M, Freel T, Koutsos E Eds. Proceedings of the Thirteenth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition Foundation and AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Saint Louis, MO.

Abstract

Zoo animal nutrition is an ever-developing field of conservation biology research of crucial importance for the longevity of often-threatened taxa housed within institutions. Herpetological nutrition, at the genus or species level at least, remains in its infancy. Ex-situ collections should strive to formulate species-specific diets for as many reptile and amphibian taxa as possible to improve captive health and welfare. Giant Aldabra tortoises (Geochelone gigantea) are a common and charismatic reptile kept in many European collections. There is sparse published literature on captive nutrition of these giants compared to the closely-related giant Galapagos tortoises (Chelonoidis spp.). A dietary survey was sent to 54 EAZA and ZAA institutions with G. gigantea registered in their living collections on ZIMS (Zoological Information Management Software, Species360®). Questions ranged from diet ingredients and quantities to group size and recent health data.

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