Mammals
Birds
Amphibians
Reptiles
Meet the Madagascar big-headed turtle
Found in the swamps and slow-moving rivers of Madagascar, the Madagascar big-headed turtle is known locally as 'rere'.
The wild population declined rapidly due to overfishing and hunting of females and their eggs, in addition to climate change affecting their breeding patterns.
With the help of local communities, we have been working to protect this unique turtle and its precious habitat since 1998, through captive breeding and release, head-starting young turtles, and intensive nest monitoring and protection.
Animal facts
Key facts about the Madagascar big-headed turtle
I'm found in Madagascar
Madagascar big-headed turtles live in the swamps and wetlands of Madagascar.
I'm known locally as "rere"
The rere, pronounced "ray-ray", is one of four native turtle species in Madagascar.
My head is too big for my shell
These turtles have unusually large heads, which means they cannot fully hide inside their shell.
10,000
Estimated wild population
2015
First captive-bred reres released
462
Released into wild
Durrell has been working to protect this unique turtle since 1998
Our conservation work
What we're doing to help save side-necked turtles
Protecting turtles and their nests
The rere has long been hunted for food. Fishermen would use large fishing nets on the lake to collect multiple turtles, or females and their eggs would be collected during laying season.
Protecting Madagascar’s wetlands
The wetlands provide local people with vital resources, but these have been overexploited.
Breeding turtles in captivity
Populations have declined dramatically due to climate change affecting breeding patterns and the hunting of female turtles and their eggs.
Meet Juliette Velosoa, the rere project manager, and learn how we're protecting the Madagascar big-headed turtle in its native home.
Meet the big-headed turtle at Jersey Zoo
You can see our Madagascar big-headed turtles for yourself at Jersey Zoo.
They have unusually large heads, which is where they get their name. Unlike most other turtle species, the big-headed turtles head is so big they cannot fully hide inside their shells. Living in wetland habitats, these turtles spend most of their lives in the water but venture onto land to lay their eggs or bask on logs and rocks.
See if you can spot them gliding through the water or basking in the warmth of their habitat in our Reptile and Amphibian House.
Support our conservation work