Nature and the Environment

PRESENTS

A World Turtle Day Special

The Leopard Tortoise

By Katelin Kukk

Photo by award winning photographer Janette Hill

Happy World Turtle Day! It’s an amazing day to share our love and passion for turtles!

Founded in 2000, this day raises awareness to protect turtles, tortoises, and their vanishing habitats. One tortoise that needs love is the leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis). Their beautiful leopard-patterned, and colored carapaces make these tortoises blend in with their environment, keeping them perfectly camouflaged from predators.

Spread throughout much of Africa, these herbivores are adapted to dry, hot climates. They tend to be more active in the morning, retreat during the hottest part of the day, and hide once again right before night. One of their most important adaptations is the ability to store water in large anal sacs that take up a substantial amount of room in their abdominal cavity. This allows them to stay hydrated during intense heat. They can also “flush” out this stored water as a defense mechanism to deter predators or anyone attempting to pick them up. During their free time, leopard tortoises graze on a variety of different grasses. Their keen sense helps them locate food, and their sharp beak-like mouths allow them break down tough food like fruit or cactuses.

Although leopard tortoises are currently considered Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, they still face threats from habitat loss, human consumption, and illegal pet trade. Conservation efforts are focused on protecting them and ensuring that their population remains stable, keeping them from moving closer to endangered status.

World Turtle Day

2026