What is the biggest tortoise in the world?

There are different species of turtles, but all of them are unique and very friendly. Turtles are characterized by their appearance and their leisurely stride. Some live in the seas and rivers, but there are also land turtles. Do you know which is the largest turtle in the world?

For many years these endearing reptiles, such as the Greek turtle (which you can visit in Selwo Marina), have served as pets. It is a common belief that turtles do not need great care to survive.

Small turtles, known as Japanese turtles, are the most popular freshwater turtles and are used as pets for children. But they are an invasive species that causes major problems for ecosystems when released.

Did you know that the worst thing you can do is to release a turtle? If you have a pet turtle, you should keep it. Releasing Japanese turtles, which is an invasive species, is a big danger for the environment. This is because this particular species can easily adapt to the ecosystem and put it at risk.

A freshwater turtle needs nothing more than a small pond to survive and be comfortable. In addition, it should have a portion of water and another elevated surface for the animal to step on, out of the water, and bask in the sun. It is also important that it has a place to shelter when temperatures drop. In good conditions, one of these adorable pets, which do not need great care, can live up to 20 years.

The big problem today is that these turtles are being released into ponds, rivers and lakes. Why is this a problem? Because they are an invasive species capable of displacing the local fauna of the place where they are released; this generates a considerable alteration of the ecosystem. Releasing a turtle that has been a pet for some time can seriously damage the natural habitat of other species and biodiversity.

If you release a turtle that has been a pet, you can cause a problem for the native turtles in a river or lake, as they can carry diseases that harm the local species.

In fact, the International Union for Conservation of Nature considers small Japanese turtles to be one of the world's most dangerous invasive alien species. In some places, trading with such turtles is banned.

If Japanese turtles are very small, there is one species of turtle that is the largest. It is the famous Galapagos turtle, which, unfortunately, is in danger of extinction. This peculiar turtle is endemic to the Galapagos Islands and it is not only the largest turtle in the world, it also has the longest life - they can live over a 100 years!

The Galapagos turtle has a carapace that reaches up to 1.5 meters long, and specimens that grow in the wild can weigh up to 300 kilograms. They are truly the biggest tortoise ever!

Galapagos turtles have no natural predators, but they are in danger of extinction because their eggs and hatchlings are easy prey for other species such as rats and pigs, among others. In addition, human action also endangers their natural habitat.

It is known that there are more than 100 different species of the Galapagos giant turtle and they are differentiated from each other by the size of their carapace, the shape of their shell and, of course, their geographic distribution. Galapagos turtles are ancestral turtles that have evolved to adapt to the conditions of the environment in which they live.

That is why some species have a domed shell, while others have a hydrodynamic shell. But they are all characterized by their large size and longevity. Why are there differences in the shell? This is because they have needed to adapt to the height of the vegetation on which they feed.

The Galapagos turtle was discovered in the 19th century and, at that time, its population numbered around 250,000. Today, however, the number of this species has decreased considerably. Thanks to the various conservation programs that exist, the number of specimens is increasing little by little.

If you are a fan of these endearing reptiles, which hide their heads inside their shells, be sure to visit Selwo Marina. Here you can meet the famous Greek turtle, also known as the black turtle, which for a long time has also served as a pet.

But you can also learn a lot about the red-footed turtle. This species is terrestrial and comes from Central and South America; it is a very friendly reptile that can measure up to 50 centimeters and weigh up to 20 kilograms - it's one of the largest tortoise in the park! These curious turtles emit a sound that sounds a lot like a chicken’s, the males use it to attract females!