Fall and Rise of Nesting Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles: Positive Response to Four Decades of Protection (1968–2008)

Aldabra Atoll has witnessed a remarkable 500%–800% increase in its nesting green turtle population over four decades of protection since becoming a nature reserve in 1968. Initially, the population faced intense exploitation, but standardized track count protocols implemented from 1980 onward revealed significant recovery. The study monitored 52 nesting beaches across the atoll's 83-km outer rim, classifying them into six groups and tracking reproductive output through egg clutch estimates. Notably, Settlement Beach (SETT), historically the most exploited, showed the highest rate of increase during Phase 2 (1994–2008). This research underscores the effectiveness of long-term conservation efforts in restoring endangered species.

Mortimer, J. A., von Brandis, R. G., Liljevik, A., Chapman, R., & Collie, J. (2011). Fall and Rise of Nesting Green Turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles: Positive Response to Four Decades of Protection (1968–2008). Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 10(2), 165–176. https://doi.org/10.2744/ccb-0872.1