In a move to underscore the importance of the Seychelles’ Aldabra giant tortoises and shed light on the plight of the species, a group of conservationists and philanthropists have set up an Indian Ocean Tortoise Alliance (IOTA).
The alliance, which was initiated at the recent Paris Peace Conference, is an inclusive, Seychelles-anchored non-profit organisation dedicated to the conservation of the iconic Aldabra tortoise, said a communique from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking at the launch, the founder and chairperson of IOTA, Thomas S. Kaplan, said that giant tortoises had managed to survive on many islands worldwide until humans arrived.
