Chersobius – Padlopers

Endemic to Africa, these tortoises are usually tiny, like the speckled tortoise, which has the record of being the smallest tortoise in the world.

Roadkill, habitat loss, and illegal capture for the pet trade all pose severe dangers to this genus’ survival. Every year, countless animals are kidnapped from their native habitats. Almost all of them perish because they cannot adjust to the regular confined diet or the altered conditions that come with captivity. Invasive animals, like domestic dogs and pigs, also pose a danger to these reptiles.