Galapagos and Aldabra Tortoise

Galapagos and Aldabra Tortoise

The Alligator Adventure zoological park is a must see family attraction in North Myrtle Beach near Barefoot Landing Shopping Center. Alligator Adventure park protects the two endangered species in the world, which is Galapagos giant tortoise and Aldabra giant Tortoise.

The Galapagos tortoise or Galápagos giant tortoise (Chelonoidis nigra) is the largest living species of tortoise. Modern Galápagos tortoises can weigh up to 417 kg (919 lb). Today, giant tortoises exist only on two remote archipelagos: the Galápagos 1000 km due west of Ecuador, and Aldabra in the Indian Ocean, 700 km east of Tanzania.

The tortoise is native to seven of the Galapagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago about 1,000 km (620 mi) west of the Ecuadorian mainland. With lifespans in the wild of over 100 years, it is one of the longest-lived vertebrates. A captive individual lived at least 170 years. Spanish explorers, who discovered the islands in the 16th century, named them after the Spanish galápago, meaning tortoise.

The Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea), from the islands of the Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles, is one of the largest tortoises in the world. These are one of the largest land tortoises although the Galapagos tortoise may be larger.

How to Reach : It's a place to get up close and personal with some of the dangerous and beautiful animals on the planet at Alligator Adventure in North Myrtle Beach.

Alligator Adventure, Hwy 17 at Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach, S.C.