Forsten's Tortoise
CR

Forsten's Tortoise

Indotestudo forstenii

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

Forsten's tortoise, also known commonly as the Sulawesi tortoise, is a species of tortoise in the family Testudinidae. The species is native to Sulawesi Island, Indonesia.

Indotestudo forstenii faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for the international pet trade and traditional medicine markets. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and logging in Sulawesi's lowland forests has fragmented remaining populations. The species' slow reproductive rate and limited geographic range make recovery extremely difficult once populations are depleted.

Threat summary

Habitat

This species inhabits lowland tropical rainforests and forest edges in Sulawesi, Indonesia, typically found in areas with dense vegetation and access to water sources. It prefers primary and secondary forests at elevations below 600 meters.

Forest· major

Conservation measures underway

Species recoveryLegislationPolicies and regulations

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Forsten's Tortoise classified as Critically Endangered?
Forsten's Tortoise is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Indotestudo forstenii faces severe population decline primarily due to intensive collection for the international pet trade and traditional medicine markets. Habitat destruction from agricultural expansion and logging in Sulawesi's lowland forests has fragmented remaining populations. The species' slow reproductive rate and limited geographic range make recovery extremely difficult once populations are depleted.
Where does Forsten's Tortoise live?
Forsten's Tortoise occurs in Indonesia. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Forsten's Tortoise?
The main threats to Forsten's Tortoise are 10.2, 4.1, 5.1, and 5.1.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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