The Tortoise Project

Tortoises arose during the Eocene, starting 56 million years ago. They became burrowers and grazers, dwarfs and giants, adapting to a wide range of climates and habitats from rainforests to some of the driest and harshest deserts. About 50 species of tortoises are living today, on every continent except Antarctica, and many oceanic islands.

For more than 210 million years, turtles have reshaped life on our planet. They have lived on Earth long before humans made their appearance. They survived the asteroid that ushered in the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction 66 million years ago, wiping out the dinosaurs along with three-quarters of the planet’s plant and animal species.

Tortoises have captivated people for centuries — and because of us, today they are among the world’s most imperiled animals. Many tortoise species have already disappeared. The surviving species are facing threats from habitat loss, climate stress, and wildlife trafficking.

This site is dedicated to the amazing tortoises around the world, and to the biologists, scientists, and conservationists who have devoted their lives and careers protecting them and their habitats.