Aldabra Giant Tortoise

Geochelone gigantea

Slow and Steady.

Native to the Aldabra Atoll, an island north of Madagascar, Aldabra giant tortoises are the last giant tortoise species in the eastern hemisphere. Not only are they large in size, the Aldabra tortoises have enormous personalities to match. ZooTampa is home to 3 adult Aldabra tortoises – a male named Al and two females named Dabby and Sligh.

Each of the Aldabra tortoises has a unique personality and they are not afraid to show it off! Al is the most eager of the group and will stretch out his neck to receive scratches! He enjoys socializing with staff and guests alike. Dabby doesn’t mind scratches but would really rather be with a fresh cut branch from a mulberry tree. Sligh loves bulldozing across the yard as a determined, yet aimless, wanderer.

Each day, the Zoo invites guests to interact with these tortoises and to take a “shell-fie” during a special Aldabra tortoise encounter.

Conservation Threats

Vulnerable

Gallery

Aldabra Giant Tortoise - ZooTampa at Lowry Park

A young boy pets the neck of a big wrinkly Aldabra Tortoise during a Signature Encounter at ZooTampa

A mom and her young boys kneel down to pet an Aldabra Tortoise during a Signature Encounter at ZooTampa

Natural Habitat

Grasslands, scrub areas and mangrove swamps

Range

Islands of Aldabra and the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean

Size

Weight: 350 – 550 lbs
Length: 3 – 4.5 feet

Lifespan

Oldest recorded: 152 years old

Gestation

Lays 9-25 tennis ball-sized eggs with an incubation period of 73 to 160 days

Diet Details

Grasses, fruits and succulent plants

ZooTampa at Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa, Inc., an independent 501(c)(3) charitable organization committed to excellence in conservation, education, recreation and research. The Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and is featured among the “Top 25 Zoos in the U.S” by TripAdvisor.

Contact Us

1101 W. Sligh Avenue
Tampa, FL 33604

P: (813) 935-8552

Open today from:
9:30 AM – 5:00 PM

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Donor Bill of Rights

Trustees of the Lowry Park Zoological Society, Directors of the Lowry Park Zoo Endowment Foundation, and the Employees and Volunteers of ZooTampa understand and appreciate the vital role of philanthropy to accomplish our work. That’s why we subscribe to the Donor Bill of Rights developed by the American Association of Fund Raising Counsel, Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, Council for Advancement and Support of Education, National Society of Fund Raising Executives:

“Philanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To assure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the general public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the not-for-profit organizations and causes that they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:

To be informed of the organization’s mission, of the way the organization intends to use donated resources, and of its capacity to use donations effectively for their intended purposes.
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As a non-profit organization, ZooTampa relies on your support, depends on the support of generous contributors, and achieves ambitious fundraising objectives by communicating with and understanding donors. We know that it is essential to protect the privacy of that information. ZooTampa, the Lowry Park Zoological Society, and the Lowry Park Zoo Endowment Foundation will neither sell nor trade a donor’s personal information to any other entity without the written permission of the donor.

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FLORIDA STATE REGISTRATION

Lowry Park Zoological Society of Tampa, INC.: Registration No. CH140
Lowry Park Endowment Foundation, INC.: Registration No. CH20389

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

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Aldabra Giant Tortoise

Slow and Steady.