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Turtle of the Week: Forsten’s Tortoise

Sulawesi Island’s Best Kept Secret: The Forsten’s Tortoise

Meet the feisty Forsten’s Tortoise! Endemic to the forests of Sulawesi island in Indonesia, it has a long, low carapace that is yellow with black blotches, a mottled head, large eyes, and a distinctive beak, giving this tortoise the look of an ever present frown.

This species faces rapid decline due to its limited range and the pet trade. While It currently does not have protected status in Indonesia, there is an export quota in place, but this does not fully protect this species and it is still vulnerable to extinction.

To preserve the existence of the Forsten’s Tortoise, Turtle Survival Center is committed to maintaining assurance colonies of this Critically Endangered species. The first Forsten’s Tortoise at the Center hatched in 2016, totalling 32 hatchlings since then.

Alongside maintaining assurance colonies at the Center, Turtle Survival Alliance has surveyed for individuals of this species in Sulawesi, and there is still room for growth when it comes to working with this species in the wild.

Head to the link in our bio to see how you can contribute the work we do for this species and more.

• Pictured: Forsten’s Tortoise (Indotestudo forstenii)
• Countries of Origin: Indonesia
• Habitat: Dry and moist secondary forests
• Wild Population: Decreasing – intensively hunted for the pet trade
• IUCN Red List Status: Critically Endangered
• Threats: Habitat destruction; collection for the pet trade; not listed as a protected species in Indonesia

Image 1 by Nathan Haislip.