Critically Endangered Pancake Tortoise Discovered in Northern Kenya

Conservationists recently discovered a small number of the critically endangered Pancake tortoise at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy in Northern Kenya.

Seven Pancake tortoises were found at the conservancy in the first-ever attempt to establish the occurrence of the endangered species.

“Even though this discovery is significantly part of the protection status of LWC the population of Pancake tortoise is isolated and there is a need for further studies to determine its viability,” said Geoffrey Chege, Head of Conservation and Wildlife at Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.

The discovery extends the distribution range of the species in Kenya, which lies within the arid and semi-arid areas from Marsabit County southwards to Kitui.

The Pancake tortoise, whose scientific name is Malacochersus tornieri, is one of the six land tortoises found in East Africa.

The tortoises are unique in their own morphology: small size, dorso-ventrally flattened and with a soft shell that allows them to live in narrow rock crevices.

Its population has also been recorded in Tanzania and Zambia with geology, vegetation, altitude, and climate being considered the main factors that limit their distribution.