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Pancake Tortoise Conservation
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IUCN Status: Data insufficient to classify, although most agree is that they are, at least, vulnerable
CITES: not listed
Habitat: Deep, narrow crevices in rocky outcrops and kopjes below 1800m elevation. They are endemic to East Africa, occurring within a small range in Kenya and Tanzania.
Pancake tortoises are small, flattened tortoises with an unusual, soft shell. Their shell allows them to squeeze into narrow crevices which they wedge themselves into for protection.
Major threats: The popularity of wild-caught pancake tortoises as pets in the USA and Europe is having a severe impact on their native populations. The impact is worsened because they have a low reproductive rate. The Pancake tortoise's already limited habitat is destroyed by raiders breaking open crevices to get at them.
Learn more about Pancake Tortoises by clicking on the following links:
Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri)