Management of Giant tortoises Geochelone elephantopus and Geochelone gigantean at Zurich Zoological Gardens

Abstract

At Zurich Zoological Gardens 3.1 Geochelone elephantopus and 2.4 G. gigantea are maintained in an enclosure comprised of a 400 m2outdoor area, which contains a shelter with a heated floor to which the tortoises have constant access, and an adjacent 65 m2indoor house with a partially heated floor, where the temperature reaches 30oC. In 1984 the diet offered was adjusted to a lower protein, higher fibre composition after one animal died from chronic kidney disease and visceral gout. No eggs have been produced by G. gigantea while maintained at the Zoo because the ♀ have failed to ovulate which may be an indicator of unfavourable environmental conditions, such as low ambient temperatures. Since 1989 six G. elephantopus have hatched at the Zoo. Details