Giant tortoises are among the longest-lived animals on Earth. Captive management that supports their longevity requires understanding their specific environmental and dietary needs.
Giant tortoise welfare is often underestimated because their slow movements suggest low complexity. In reality, they have specific thermal, dietary, and environmental needs that require careful management. Metabolic bone disease from inadequate UV-B, obesity from inappropriate diet, and thermal stress from inadequate basking areas are common welfare problems in suboptimal captive settings. The longevity potential of these animals means that welfare failures have very long consequences — a tortoise in poor welfare conditions may suffer for decades.