At a Glance
Forsten’s Tortoise is a tortoise endemic to Sulawesi in Indonesia where it primarily lives in all types of forest habitats. The tortoises with their mottled shells are targeted for the international pet trade. Habitat destruction, natural disasters, such as tsunamis, and infrastructure, such as roads, are major threats for the species. A tsunami that hit Sulawesi in 2018 destroyed much of the tortoise’s habitat.
At a glance
Taxa
Reptiles
Geography
Indonesia
Status
Critically Endangered
Habitat
Forest
Estimated Population
Unknown
Threats
Collection for the international pet trade; hunting for local consumption; habitat loss and degradation
Potential Recovery Actions
Harvest management; law enforcement; habitat protection; monitoring and research
