Modern Aldabra tortoises from the Seychelles are taking the place of their extinct Mauritian counterparts. If you've lost species from an ecosystem, they leave a gap. And a species isn't just a taxonomic unit. It actually fulfils an ecological role. And I thought, well, we should try and bring back species that could fulfil the same or similar roles to extinct species. It's definitely going for the cameraman. So what was your biggest fear when you introduced the tortoises to the island? The biggest fear was that they'd eat all the very rare plants, of course, but, you know, deep down I realised that they wouldn't and we'd actually unveiled all sorts of interesting interactions between the tortoises and the plants. Right from the start, the tortoises avoid eating saplings and stuck to the hardiest adult plants, which can survive a few munched leaves. Oh, the biggest of the bunch. Be careful he doesn't bite you. The Aldabra tortoises' natural instincts and the native vegetation worked in perfect harmony.


来自塞舌尔的亚达伯拉象龟，逐渐取代了它们已灭绝的毛里求斯同类。生态系统中只要有物种灭绝，就会出现缺口。因为一个物种不仅是一个分类单位，还在生态系统中扮演重要角色。我当时就想，我们应该引进功能相同或相似的物种来填补灭绝物种的空缺。它就是冲着摄像师去的 你引进陆龟时，最担心的是什么？ 当然最担心它们会吃掉所有珍稀植物。但其实，我知道它们不会那么干。其实，我们还发现了陆龟与植物之间各种有趣的关系。自一开始，陆龟就会避开幼树，死盯着最耐寒的成熟植物吃。它们被吃掉几片叶也不会死。 这只块头最大，小心别被它咬伤。亚达伯拉象龟的天性。与本地植被契合良，相处和谐。