Giant tortoises make a remarkable comeback
Read about a conservation success story and discuss what it teaches us about protecting nature.
Written for any B1 learner. Adapt it to make it about your student: their level, their work, their goals.
Introduction
Sometimes animals that are close to disappearing can recover if people work together for many years. Today we will read about giant tortoises on a small island that have made an amazing comeback. Before we start, have you ever visited a nature reserve or a protected park? What was it like?
Key Vocabulary
7 wordsLearn these words before reading the article. They will help you understand the text better.
remote
far away from towns or cities, where few people live
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exploited
used something or someone unfairly for your own benefit
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commitment
a promise or a strong decision to do something over a long time
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vegetation
plants in general, especially the plants found in a particular area
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baseline
a starting point or minimum level used for comparing things in the future
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invasive
spreading in a way that is not wanted and causes harm, often used about plants or animals from other places
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hatchlings
baby animals that have just come out of an egg
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Article
Read the article carefully. Take your time to understand the main ideas.
Listen to the article. The sentence being read is highlighted; click any word to hear it.
Scientists have counted around 180,000 giant tortoises living on Aldabra Atoll, a remote island in the Seychelles. This is the highest number ever recorded for the Aldabra giant tortoise. The new figure is much larger than the human population of the Seychelles, which is about 100,000 people.
The count was completed by the Seychelles Islands Foundation and the University of Exeter. Researchers studied five years of tortoise observations, from 2018 to 2022. The last widely used estimate from the late 1990s suggested there were about 100,000 tortoises. So the population has grown a lot.
Aldabra Atoll is one of only two places on Earth where giant tortoises live in the wild. The other place is the Galápagos Islands. In the 19th century, people exploited the tortoises so heavily that fewer than 1,000 remained on Aldabra. A long recovery programme then began. The atoll became a strict nature reserve in 1981 and a Unesco world heritage site the following year.
Researchers have described this as one of the greatest conservation successes in the Indian Ocean. The leader of the islands foundation said the huge number of free-roaming tortoises proves what long-term commitment can achieve. She added that it was wonderful news for the Seychelles and for everyone who has worked to protect the area.
Counting the tortoises is not easy. The island has very thick vegetation, so many animals are hidden. A scientist working on the study explained that the team created models to estimate the animals they could not see. She said this method has given them the most reliable information yet. It will be used as a baseline to follow the population in the future.
However, scientists warn that people must stay watchful. The climate on Aldabra is changing. Experts predict longer and more frequent dry periods, which would reduce the shade and food available to the tortoises. Rising sea levels are also a danger for the low-lying parts of the atoll.
Invasive mammals are another problem. Animals like wild cats and black rats eat tortoise eggs and young hatchlings. Scientists believe that removing these invasive species could remove the last barriers to the population’s growth. This would also help the tortoises deal with future pressures from the changing climate.
A researcher from the University of Exeter said the results were great news and a sign of fantastic work in the field. But he added that the numbers are a starting point, not a final goal. He hopes the information will help conservation managers act early when new challenges appear.
Comprehension Questions
Answer these questions to check your understanding of the article.
- 1How many giant tortoises did scientists find on Aldabra Atoll?
- 2Where is Aldabra Atoll located?
- 3Why did the number of tortoises drop below 1,000 in the 19th century?
- 4What makes counting the tortoises on the island difficult?
- 5What problems could climate change cause for the tortoises?
- 6Which animals are a threat to tortoise eggs and hatchlings?
Further Discussion
Discuss these questions about the topic and your personal experiences.
- 1Are there any animals or plants in your country that were once rare but are now more common?
- 2Do you think it is important to spend money and time on protecting wild animals? Why or why not?
- 3Have you ever taken part in a project that needed many years to show results? How did you stay motivated?
- 4What small actions can people take in their daily lives to help protect nature?
- 5Is there a place in your country that is protected because of its special nature? Describe it.
- 6If you could visit Aldabra Atoll, would you want to go? What would you hope to see or do there?
Wrap-up & Reflection
Today we discussed how a long-term plan helped save the Aldabra giant tortoise and learned words like 'remote', 'commitment' and 'baseline'. Think about one thing from the lesson that surprised you or that you want to remember. Write a short sentence using one of the new words to describe your reaction.
Make it about your student
Same story, rewritten at your student's level, with discussion questions about their job, goals and weak spots. The vocabulary stays from the news, so they learn words outside their usual topics.
Sources
LinguaFlow wrote this article for language learners from facts reported by the sources below. Read them for the full story.