Southern Spurred Turtle

The Giant Southern Spurred Turtle

Native to the rainforests of Southeast Asia, the Southern Giant Spurred Tortoise(Manouria emys emys) is one of Asia's largest land tortoises. It lives mainly in Burma, Thailand, Malaysia and Sumatra, in mountainous, shady areas.

Successful reproduction at A Cupulatta Park

This species bred in the park for the first time in 2002, after several years of adaptation. The juveniles, born on site, are fed a mixture of plants and small mice, a diet that encourages their growth and boosts their vitality.

Characteristics and behavior

The Southern Giant Spurred Turtle is distinguished by its powerful hind legs, equipped with large spurs for digging and defense. It can exceed 25 kg as an adult, with a dark, slightly flattened shell. A discreet and shy species, it spends much of the day sheltered from the heat, in damp, wooded areas.

Diet and lifestyle

Mainly herbivorous, this turtle feeds on leaves, fallen fruit, mushrooms and, occasionally, small invertebrates. Its slowness and calm temperament make it a fascinating species, considered one of the oldest lineages of Asian land tortoises.

Click here to discover and visit the A Cupulatta turtle park near Ajaccio.