Giant Tortoise Attacks a Seabird in an Astonishing Encounter in Seychelles.
One of the most incredible encounters in nature occurred when a giant tortoise attacked a seabird, killing it and consuming its prey.
The giant tortoise attacks the seabird, killing and consuming its prey.
Researchers from the Cambridge University Museum of Zoology witnessed this unexpected event, which involved a large reptile and a noddy tern living on Frégate Island in Seychelles, an island nation located in the Indian Ocean.
This is the first time researchers have captured footage of a tortoise hunting in the wild; previously, they had only observed them eating bones and shells for calcium.
The researchers believe this behavior is related to a colony of sooty terns nesting in large trees, estimated to be about 265,000 birds, alongside 3,000 tortoises living nearby on the island.
The bird fell from its perch, landing on a log where the giant tortoise was nearby, and it slowly approached and attacked its prey. The attack lasted for over seven minutes, resulting in the bird’s death and becoming a tasty meal for the tortoise.
Video footage shows the tortoise standing near the area where the bird fell, indicating that this type of hunting behavior occurs regularly.
The adult female tortoise moved at a normal pace, heading directly toward the target. When it was close enough, it opened its large mouth and seized the prey. The bird attempted to defend itself by pecking at the tortoise, but its efforts were in vain.
On the Galapagos and Seychelles islands, giant tortoises are the largest herbivores, consuming up to 11% of the vegetation. They also play a crucial role in seed dispersal, breaking down vegetation, and eroding rock.
Anna Zora, the manager of the Frégate Island reserve, who filmed the tortoise hunting, said: “When I saw the tortoise moving strangely, I sat and observed. When I realized it was hunting, I started filming.”
Dr. Justin Gerlach, Director of Biological Research at Cambridge University, stated: “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. This is astonishing. It was staring directly at the tern, moving purposefully toward it. This behavior is very unusual, completely different from the normal behavior of tortoises.”
