Pancake Tortoise

Species: Pancake Tortoise
Habitat: Scrubs/Savanna of East Africa
Status: Vulnerable
DAK Locale: Pangani Forest Trail

This tortoise has a very flat and flexible shell which make it look like a pancake. It lives in the rocky outcroppings of Tanzania and Kenya. The shell allows it to squeeze in amongst the rocks for shelter from both predators and the heat of the sun. It is native to southern Kenya and northern Tanzania, but there is also an introduced population in Zimbabwe.

The animal lives in isolated colonies amongst the kopjes of its home. These rocky outcroppings are similar to the lion exhibit of the Kilimanjaro Safaris and dot the landscape of the east African. Males will fight over females during the breeding season which is typically in January and February. Females lay one egg in a sand nest near the colony which is a slow reproductive rate for tortoises and contributes to it being listed as a Vulnerable species.

The pancake tortoise is surprisingly fast and get back to its crevice to avoid potential predators. Their flexible shell allows them to move deep into the kopje. They are most active in the early morning and early evening hours to avoid the heat of the sun. Their diet is mostly grass and other vegetation.

The unusual appearance of the animal makes it popular not just in zoos but also private collections. That along with habitat destruction has left the animal vulnerable to being endangered according to the IUCN. Both countries where it lives, however, are taking action to help their populations. It is illegal to export them from Kenya and Tanzania is actively protecting them including within the confines of its world renowned Serengeti National Park.