The Tortoise Project

For more than 210 million years, tortoises 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 adapted to a wide range of climates and habitats, from montane forests to equatorial islands 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.

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 lives of tortoises around the world, and to the biologists, scientists, and conservationists who have devoted their lives to protecting them — saviors and champions who have devoted themselves to protecting tortoises and habitats.

I’m currently researching and writing a book that takes readers to the front lines where tortoises are fighting for their lives, from the Galápagos Islands to Aldabra Atoll; from the jungle highlands of Southeast Asia to the Mojave Desert of the American Southwest; and to East Africa, Madagascar, and many places in between. My publisher is WW Norton & Co. Due out in summer 2027.

~ Kevin Gepford