Pancake tortoise
Malacochersus tornieri
We are currently home to three pancake tortoises.
Population
Decreasing
Diet
Herbivore
Habitat
Grasslands
Fact file
Pancake tortoise are unique in shape compared to other tortoises. Their shell is unusually thin, flat, and flexible, helping make them the fastest tortoise species. This shell allows them to flee and squeeze into narrow rock crevices in times of danger
Females of the species lay one egg up to four times in a year and the baby tortoises are independent as soon as they hatch meaning they do not receive any parental care
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How we're helping
Like all the animals in our care our pancake tortoises are amazing ambassadors for their relatives in the wild and help hundreds of thousands of people connect with nature every year. They encourage visitors to learn about the threats facing wildlife and the action they can take to help create a world where nature is protected, valued and loved.
As a wildlife conservation charity, we care for the animals here at the zoo and work to protect species at risk around the world. From providing expertise in genetics and veterinary health, to protecting wild places with local conservation partners, and even restoring threatened species to the wild, we are active where we are needed most.
Find out more about?RZSS conservation