How many Aldabras in private hands?

[TortyDxb]

Anyone have any idea how many Aldabras are in private hands, how many are being sold each year and does this concern you?

Is it a case of the more the merrier? or does this have negative ramifications for the Aldabras?

I am loving simply watching my two Aldabras do their thing, happy new year to you all

 

[Alaskamike]

I'm not concerned at all. Right now, because they are expensive , folks who get & raise them tend to provide optimal husbandry. We've seen, however , what happens when a species becomes to readily available - like Sulcatas. It led to casual purchase & discarding when large. And too often poor care.

Rarity increases price. Aldabra are still rare enough to cost more.

 

[Destben]

I'm not concerned at all. Right now, because they are expensive , folks who get & raise them tend to provide optimal husbandry. We've seen, however , what happens when a species becomes to readily available - like Sulcatas. It led to casual purchase & discarding when large. And too often poor care.

Rarity increases price. Aldabra are still rare enough to cost more.

I would like to have a couple Aldabras down the road but like Alaskamike says they are expensive and so I would like to be more experienced and have a large enclosure before I even attempt to keep the species. I jumped into leopard tortoise ownership completely un prepared and I don’t want that for an aldabra. (This forum helped me make the necessary changes for my torts health so all is well)

 

[TortyDxb]

I just saw the Cites paperwork for the batch of hatchling Aldabras that came in to the UAE. I am wondering if there are 1000's being sold each year and if the demand outstrips supply by leaps and bounds. Reason being I don't meet many people who ACTUALLY want an Aldabra.

On a completely different note, I think they are extremely visual and recognise pictures. I placed some food on an old take away menu (PF Changs no less) -instead of directly on grass, and they started picking at the photos of different dishes on the menu.