Geochelone sulcata
Sometimes called the African Spurred Tortoise
This tortoise inhabits the southern edge of the Sahara desert
in Northern Africa. It is the third-largest species of tortoise
in the world. The lifespan of this tortoise is about 50-150 years.
Their diets consist of many types of grasses and plants.
The conservation status of these tortoises is listed as "Vulnerable"
Many populations of this tortoise are rapidly disappearing, expecially
in Mali, Chad, Niger, and Ethiopia. This is due to overgrazing and
desertification.
This is a captive specimen located in the Oxbow Meadows Environmental
Learning Center in Columbus, Georgia