Testudinidae (Tortoises) — Wallace's Line

Species in this group

LC

Chersina angulata

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely

LC

Stigmochelys pardalis

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

VU

Geochelone elegans

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely

VU Endemic

Gopherus polyphemus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

CR Endemic

Chelonoidis niger

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

CR

Gopherus agassizii

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely

VU

Chelonoidis denticulatus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

CR

Chelonoidis porteri

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

CR

Kinixys homeana

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

VU

Chelonoidis chilensis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Kinixys zombensis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Kinixys spekii

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Chelonoidis carbonarius

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

CR

Manouria emys

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

VU

Gopherus morafkai

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Kinixys belliana

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Kinixys erosa

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

CR

Malacochersus tornieri

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

CR

Indotestudo elongata

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

CR

Chelonoidis guntheri

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

EN

Chelonoidis chathamensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

LC

Homopus areolatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

VU

Chelonoidis vandenburghi

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

LC

Gopherus berlandieri

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

VU

Testudo graeca

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

See all 25 species Show fewer

Daily sighting probability by month

Probability-weighted average across the group's species

~30%

Jan

~30%

Feb

~40%

Mar

~40%

Apr

~30%

May

~30%

Jun

~20%

Jul

~20%

Aug

~30%

Sep

~30%

Oct

~40%

Nov

~40%

Dec

When they're spotted

When the group's species are recorded (aggregated)

Where to see Tortoises

Warmer areas are where this group is recorded most often. Shaded: the known ranges of its 50 species, darker where more of them overlap (GARD, Roll et al. 2017 & Caetano et al. 2022). Our parks Our cities In captivity: 642 zoos & centres

Parks Ranked

#	Park	Country	Species	Daily sighting probability
1	West Coast National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 25	~90%
	Angulate Tortoise			~90%
2	uMkhuze Game Reserve	🇿🇦 South Africa	2 of 25	~80%
	Leopard Tortoise			~70%
	Eastern Hinged-Back Tortoise			~30%
3	Awash National Park	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	1 of 25	~80%
	Leopard Tortoise			~80%
4	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	5 of 25	~80%
	Galápagos Giant Tortoise			~50%
	Indefatigable Island Giant Tortoise			~40%
	Sierra Negra Giant Tortoise			~10%
	Chatham Island Giant Tortoise			~10%
	Alcedo Volcano Giant Tortoise			~10%
5	Wilpattu National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	1 of 25	~60%
	Indian Star Tortoise			~60%
6	De Hoop Nature Reserve	🇿🇦 South Africa	2 of 25	~60%
	Angulate Tortoise			~50%
	Leopard Tortoise			~20%
7	Addo Elephant National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	3 of 25	~60%
	Leopard Tortoise			~40%
	Angulate Tortoise			~30%
	Parrot-beaked Tortoise			~10%
8	Tarangire National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	2 of 25	~50%
	Leopard Tortoise			~40%
	Crevice Tortoise			~20%
9	Kruger National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	2 of 25	~50%
	Leopard Tortoise			~40%
	Speke's Hinge-back Tortoise			~20%
10	Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	2 of 25	~50%
	Leopard Tortoise			~40%
	Eastern Hinged-Back Tortoise			~20%
11	Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 25	~50%
	Gopher Tortoise			~50%
12	Tsavo West National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	1 of 25	~50%
	Leopard Tortoise			~50%
13	Ruaha National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	1 of 25	~50%
	Leopard Tortoise			~50%
14	Joshua Tree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 25	~50%
	Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise			~50%
15	Table Mountain National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	3 of 25	~40%
	Angulate Tortoise			~30%
	Parrot-beaked Tortoise			~10%
	Leopard Tortoise			~10%
16	Nairobi National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	1 of 25	~40%
	Leopard Tortoise			~40%
17	Garden Route National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	3 of 25	~40%
	Angulate Tortoise			~30%
	Leopard Tortoise			~10%
	Parrot-beaked Tortoise			~10%
18	Waterberg Plateau Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	1 of 25	~40%
	Leopard Tortoise			~40%
19	Lake Nakuru National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	1 of 25	~40%
	Leopard Tortoise			~40%
20	Gonarezhou National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	1 of 25	~40%
	Leopard Tortoise			~40%
21	Hwange National Park	🇿🇼 Zimbabwe	1 of 25	~40%
	Leopard Tortoise			~40%
22	Yala National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	1 of 25	~40%
	Indian Star Tortoise			~40%
23	Yasuní National Park	🇪🇨 Ecuador	1 of 25	~40%
	South American Yellowfoot Tortoise			~40%
24	Serengeti National Park	🇹🇿 Tanzania	1 of 25	~40%
	Leopard Tortoise			~40%
25	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 25	~40%
	Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise			~40%
26	Taï National Park	🇨🇮 Ivory Coast	1 of 25	~30%
	Home's Hingeback Tortoise			~30%
27	El Impenetrable National Park	🇦🇷 Argentina	1 of 25	~30%
	Chilean Tortoise			~30%
28	Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 25	~30%
	Leopard Tortoise			~30%
29	Kaeng Krachan National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	2 of 25	~30%
	Asian Forest Tortoise			~20%
	Elongated Tortoise			~10%
30	iSimangaliso Wetland Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 25	~30%
	Eastern Hinged-Back Tortoise			~30%
31	Etosha National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	1 of 25	~30%
	Leopard Tortoise			~30%
32	Akagera National Park	🇷🇼 Rwanda	1 of 25	~30%
	Speke's Hinge-back Tortoise			~30%
33	Pilanesberg National Park	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 25	~30%
	Leopard Tortoise			~30%
34	Emas National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	1 of 25	~30%
	Red-footed Tortoise			~30%
35	Minneriya National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	1 of 25	~20%
	Indian Star Tortoise			~20%
36	Tsavo East National Park	🇰🇪 Kenya	1 of 25	~20%
	Leopard Tortoise			~20%
37	Tambopata National Reserve	🇵🇪 Peru	1 of 25	~20%
	South American Yellowfoot Tortoise			~20%
38	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 25	~20%
	Morafka’s Desert Tortoise			~20%
39	Liwonde National Park	🇲🇼 Malawi	1 of 25	~20%
	Speke's Hinge-back Tortoise			~20%
40	Gorongosa National Park	🇲🇿 Mozambique	1 of 25	~20%
	Eastern Hinged-Back Tortoise			~20%
41	Udawalawe National Park	🇱🇰 Sri Lanka	1 of 25	~20%
	Indian Star Tortoise			~20%
42	Moremi Game Reserve	🇧🇼 Botswana	1 of 25	~20%
	Leopard Tortoise			~20%
43	Ngorongoro Conservation Area	🇹🇿 Tanzania	1 of 25	~20%
	Leopard Tortoise			~20%
44	Murchison Falls National Park	🇺🇬 Uganda	1 of 25	~20%
	Bell’s Hingeback Tortoise			~20%
45	Samburu National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	1 of 25	~20%
	Leopard Tortoise			~20%
46	Odzala-Kokoua National Park	🇨🇬 Republic of the Congo	1 of 25	~20%
	Eroded Hingeback Tortoise			~20%
47	Manu National Park	🇵🇪 Peru	1 of 25	~20%
	South American Yellowfoot Tortoise			~20%
48	Chobe National Park	🇧🇼 Botswana	1 of 25	~20%
	Leopard Tortoise			~20%
49	Masai Mara National Reserve	🇰🇪 Kenya	1 of 25	~20%
	Leopard Tortoise			~20%
50	Danum Valley Conservation Area	🇲🇾 Malaysia	1 of 25	~20%
	Asian Forest Tortoise			~20%
51	Cat Tien National Park	🇻🇳 Vietnam	1 of 25	~20%
	Elongated Tortoise			~20%
52	Khao Yai National Park	🇹🇭 Thailand	1 of 25	~20%
	Elongated Tortoise			~20%
53	Tijuca National Park	🇧🇷 Brazil	1 of 25	~10%
	South American Yellowfoot Tortoise			~10%
54	Cumbres de Monterrey National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	1 of 25	~10%
	Texas Tortoise			~10%
55	Doñana National Park	🇪🇸 Spain	1 of 25	~10%
	Greek Tortoise			~10%
56	Namib-Naukluft National Park	🇳🇦 Namibia	1 of 25	~10%
	Leopard Tortoise			~10%
57	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	1 of 25	~10%
	Red-footed Tortoise			~10%
58	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	1 of 25	~10%
	Red-footed Tortoise			~10%
59	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	1 of 25	<5%
	Gopher Tortoise			<5%

Cities Ranked

#	City	Country	Species	Daily sighting probability
1	João Pessoa	🇧🇷 Brazil	1 of 25	~50%
	Red-footed Tortoise			~50%
2	Cape Town	🇿🇦 South Africa	3 of 25	~50%
	Angulate Tortoise			~30%
	Parrot-beaked Tortoise			~20%
	Leopard Tortoise			~10%
3	Santa Cruz de la Sierra	🇧🇴 Bolivia	1 of 25	~40%
	Red-footed Tortoise			~40%
4	Pretoria	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 25	~40%
	Leopard Tortoise			~40%
5	Addis Ababa	🇪🇹 Ethiopia	1 of 25	~40%
	Leopard Tortoise			~40%
6	Salvador	🇧🇷 Brazil	1 of 25	~30%
	Red-footed Tortoise			~30%
7	Maceió	🇧🇷 Brazil	1 of 25	~20%
	Red-footed Tortoise			~20%
8	Campo Grande	🇧🇷 Brazil	1 of 25	~20%
	Red-footed Tortoise			~20%
9	Johannesburg	🇿🇦 South Africa	1 of 25	~20%
	Leopard Tortoise			~20%
10	Nairobi	🇰🇪 Kenya	1 of 25	~10%
	Leopard Tortoise			~10%
11	Medellín	🇨🇴 Colombia	1 of 25	~10%
	Red-footed Tortoise			~10%
12	Rio de Janeiro	🇧🇷 Brazil	1 of 25	<5%
	Red-footed Tortoise			<5%
13	Panama City	🇵🇦 Panama	1 of 25	<5%
	Red-footed Tortoise			<5%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Disney's Animal Kingdom	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
2	Busch Gardens Tampa	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
3	San Diego Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
4	Pairi Daiza	🇧🇪 Belgium	In captivity
5	Prague Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
6	National Zoological Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
7	Shedd Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
8	ZooParc de Beauval	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
9	Denver Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
10	Copenhagen Zoo	🇩🇰 Denmark	In captivity
11	Dublin Zoo	🇮🇪 Ireland	In captivity
12	Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
13	Zürich Zoo	🇨🇭 Switzerland	In captivity
14	The Blue Planet	🇩🇰 Denmark	In captivity
15	Lisbon Oceanarium	🇵🇹 Portugal	In captivity
16	Planckendael Zoo	🇧🇪 Belgium	In captivity
17	Antwerp Zoo	🇧🇪 Belgium	In captivity
18	Parque das Aves	🇧🇷 Brazil	In captivity
19	Barcelona Zoo	🇪🇸 Spain	In captivity
20	North Carolina Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
21	Australia Zoo	🇦🇺 Australia	In captivity
22	Zlín-Lešná Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
23	Ostrava Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
24	Kolmården Wildlife Park	🇸🇪 Sweden	In captivity
25	Tulsa Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
26	Zoo Pilsen	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
27	Parc Phœnix	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
28	Chomutov Zoo	🇨🇿 Czechia	In captivity
29	Zoologic park de Lille	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
30	Zoo de Doué	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
31	Abilene Zoological Gardens	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
32	Yekaterinburg Zoo	🇷🇺 Russia	In captivity
33	La Tanière	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
34	Civic Aquarium of Milan	🇮🇹 Italy	In captivity
35	Nordens Ark	🇸🇪 Sweden	In captivity
36	Zoobotanic Park of Brusque	🇧🇷 Brazil	In captivity
37	Taronga Western Plains Zoo	🇦🇺 Australia	In captivity
38	Nandankanan Zoological Park	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
39	Zoo Miami	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
40	San Diego Zoo Safari Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
41	Lion Country Safari	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
42	Bioparque Estrella	🇲🇽 Mexico	In captivity
43	Al Ain Zoo	🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	In captivity
44	African Lion Safari	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity
45	Binder Park Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
46	Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden	🇮🇳 India	In captivity
47	Toronto Zoo	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity
48	Minnesota Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
49	Taipei Zoo	🇹🇼 Taiwan	In captivity
50	Living Desert Zoo and Gardens	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity

Show all 50 Show fewer

Challenges

Part of the challengeGalápagos IconsSouth AmericaGiant tortoiseMarine iguanaBlue-footed boobyGalápagos sea lionGalápagos penguin

Part of the challengeGalápagos StarterSouth AmericaMarine iguanaSea lionBlue-footed boobyGiant tortoise

Part of the challengeDarwin in the GalápagosSouth AmericaGiant tortoiseMarine iguanaLand iguanaMockingbirdDarwin's finch

Tortoises

Species in this group

Angulate Tortoise

Leopard Tortoise

Indian Star Tortoise

Gopher Tortoise

Galápagos Giant Tortoise

Agassiz’s Desert Tortoise

South American Yellowfoot Tortoise

Indefatigable Island Giant Tortoise

Home's Hingeback Tortoise

Chilean Tortoise

Eastern Hinged-Back Tortoise

Speke's Hinge-back Tortoise

Red-footed Tortoise

Asian Forest Tortoise

Morafka’s Desert Tortoise

Bell’s Hingeback Tortoise

Eroded Hingeback Tortoise

Crevice Tortoise

Elongated Tortoise

Sierra Negra Giant Tortoise

Chatham Island Giant Tortoise

Parrot-beaked Tortoise

Alcedo Volcano Giant Tortoise

Texas Tortoise

Greek Tortoise

Daily sighting probability by month

When they're spotted

Where to see Tortoises

Parks Ranked

Cities Ranked

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Challenges