Photograph by @thomaspeschak Giant tortoises on Aldabra have their own way to keep cool: They go caving! For these reptiles ...

Photograph by @thomaspeschak Giant tortoises on Aldabra have their own way to keep cool: They go caving! For these reptiles living on this Seychelles atoll, you either find a way to get out of the sun, or you cook to death in your own shell. To avoid this fate, the tortoise climb into caves before the hottest part of the day (109 degrees Fahrenheit) begins. They go underground en masse, descending like coal miners in long cue, until up to 85 tortoises are crammed into this 16-foot deep cave. Tortoises can’t pant or sweat like mammals, so they must find the coolest place to survive in this hostile environment. These unique cave dwelling tortoises were discovery by scientists Dr. Dennis Hansen and Richard Baxter from the University of Zurich and rangers from the Seychelles Island Foundation.
For a funny photograph showing how of a group of Aldabra tortoises seek shade in the absence of caves please follow @thomaspeschak and check my feed in one hour.
#seychelles #sif #aldabra #tortoises #caving #caves #photooftheday
Shot on assignment for @natgeo magazine for a story just published in the March issue.