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New Exhibit: Giant Tortoise
Aldabra Tortoises Return to the Indianapolis Zoo!
Get ready to meet some of nature’s slow and steady wonders! This summer, giant tortoises will return to the Indianapolis Zoo, offering guests a chance to encounter gentle giants up close. Known for their impressive size, long lifespans and calm demeanor, these remarkable reptiles will bring a new kind of wild experience.
Measuring up to four feet long and weighing several hundred pounds, a giant tortoise’s impressive size is matched only by its age. They can live 150 years or more!
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The Giant Tortoise exhibit, located next to Deserts, will be home to five Aldabra tortoises( two males and three females). Designed for year-round comfort, the habitat includes a spacious outdoor yard for basking and exploring during warmer months, as well as an indoor retreat for cooler weather. The tortoises will also enjoy access to pools in both areas and a mud wallow in the outdoor space, providing plenty of opportunities for natural behaviors.
Discover Fascinating Giant Tortoise Facts
A creep.
Shells are made of about 50 to 60 bones fused together and protected on the outside by hard keratin scutes.
Tortoises can go weeks or even months without food and water. In certain conditions, a tortoise could survive over a year without food or water.
Tortoises sleep on average 16 hours a day and are active for about four to six hours a day. They mostly rest at night and during hotter times in the day.
It can take up to three weeks to fully digest a meal due to a tortoise’s metabolism.
Baby giant tortoises are about 3 inches long and can weigh less than a pound.