'Rewilding': British scientists brought the giant Aldabra tortoise to the Ile aux Aigrettes, off Mauritius, to help disperse ebony tree seedsIntensive logging had decimated the ebony forest which once covered the Ile aux Aigrettes, off Mauritius
Aldabra tortoises were brought in 2000 to eat the fruit of the ebony tree and disperse the seeds in their faeces
Giant tortoises have rescued the ecology of a tropical island devastated by deforestation in a successful example of 'rewilding'.
British scientists brought the giant Aldabra tortoise - Aldabrachelys gigantea - to the Ile aux Aigrettes, off Mauritius, to help disperse ebony tree seeds.
Intensive logging that lasted until the early 1980s has decimated the ebony forest which once covered the 25-hectare island.
Going about his business: The tortoises were re-introduced in 2000 to eat the fruit of the ebony tree and disperse the seeds in their faecesThe tortoises, which can reach a length of almost 4ft and weigh 500lb, were re-introduced in 2000 to eat the fruit of the ebony tree and disperse the seeds in their faeces.
The strategy worked better than experts had hoped, leading to the widespread establishment of new ebony seedlings in heavily logged parts of the island.
Not only were seeds sown across the island, but passing through the tortoise's gut seemed to improve their germination.
source: dailymail
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