Critically endangered pancake tortoise hatches at Battersea Park Children's Zoo

We’re delighted to announce the successful hatching of a critically endangered pancake tortoise at Battersea Park Children’s Zoo.

Our newest arrival emerged from his egg in late July, becoming the third pancake tortoise to hatch at the zoo in recent years as part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). The tiny hatchling is a significant addition to our conservation work and an important milestone for a species facing serious challenges in the wild.

Pancake tortoises (Malacochersus tornieri) are unlike any other tortoise species. Native to the rocky outcrops of Kenya and Tanzania, they are instantly recognisable by their flattened, flexible shells. This unique adaptation allows them to squeeze into narrow rock crevices, helping them escape predators and shelter from the intense East African heat.

Despite these remarkable adaptations, pancake tortoises are classified as Critically Endangered. Wild populations have declined dramatically due to collection for the international pet trade, while habitat loss and degradation continue to threaten their future. Agricultural expansion, fires, and the destruction of the rocky habitats they depend on have placed increasing pressure on remaining populations.

The species also faces another challenge: a naturally low reproductive rate. Female pancake tortoises typically lay just one or two eggs at a time, making population recovery a slow process and highlighting the importance of every successful hatch.

For now, our young tortoise will remain behind the scenes in a specially designed nursery enclosure, where our animal care team can closely monitor his growth and development. As he gets bigger and stronger, we hope he will eventually join the rest of our pancake tortoise group.

As an accredited zoo, Battersea Park Children’s Zoo is proud to support international conservation breeding programmes that help safeguard vulnerable and endangered species. Every successful hatch contributes valuable knowledge and genetic diversity to the managed population, helping to secure a future for species at risk of extinction.

We look forward to sharing updates as our newest arrival grows. Our hope is that one day, this little tortoise will play his own part in ensuring pancake tortoises continue to survive for generations to come.

Visit the zoo to learn more about pancake tortoises and the conservation work helping to protect endangered species around the world.