HYDERABAD: The Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad is now home to a new species - the Aldabra giant tortoise, endemic to the African country of Seychelles.Two individuals of the species were gifted to India by Seychelles President, Danny Faure on Monday, on his visit to the country. The Central Zoo Authority, New Delhi decided to house them in Hyderabad zoo.
The same day, Raymond A Brioche, Chief Executive Officer of the Seychelles National Botanical Garden, visited the city handed the two tortoises over to Hyderabad zoo. The two tortoises aged around 20 years have been kept under quarantine and will continue to be under observation for 30 days, after which they will be released into the enclosure for public view, where presently a Galapagos tortoise is also housed.
The Aldabra tortoise can weigh as much as 150 kilograms and some individuals have been known to have lived even above 200 years.