Ecological Role and The Re-wilding of Rodrigues
It has subsequently been discovered that the browsing herds of tortoises filled an essential role in the island's ecosystem and the regeneration of its forests. Among other roles, the tortoises ensured the dispersal and germination of the trees' seeds, as well as "terraforming" by maintaining forest-clearings and pools.
In recognition of this fact, measures have been undertaken to introduce replacements, in the form of similar species of tortoise from other parts of the world, to assist in the rebuilding of Rodrigues's devastated environment. The replacement species for the Saddle-backed Rodrigues tortoise was chosen to be the Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantia) of the Seychelles, which is roughly similar in size, though very different in body-form.
Read more about this topic: Saddle-backed Rodrigues Giant Tortoise
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