{"id":8539,"date":"2025-05-23T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/?p=8539"},"modified":"2025-08-12T14:30:50","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T18:30:50","slug":"a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/","title":{"rendered":"A Second Chance for a Forgotten Species: Kenya\u2019s Plan to Save the Pancake Tortoise"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By the Lewa Communication Team,<\/a><\/strong> featuring our conservation partner, <\/em>Lewa Wildlife Conservancy.<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the rocky crevices of Kenya\u2019s drylands, where sunbaked stones form silent shelters, lives a creature many have never seen \u2014 and few even know exists, the Pancake Tortoise.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri<\/em>) isn\u2019t like other tortoises. Its shell is flat and flexible, built not for defense, but for escape\u2014squeezing into cracks too narrow for predators. It\u2019s nature\u2019s oddity. And it\u2019s in trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once scattered across Kenya\u2019s rocky hills and escarpments, this uniquely adapted reptile is now Critically Endangered, threatened by habitat loss, degradation, and illegal collection for the exotic pet trade. As its environment disappears, so does its chance of survival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, for the first time, a coordinated national effort offers hope.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A National Commitment to Conservation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After years of research, consultation, and collaboration, Kenya has launched the National Recovery and Conservation Action Plan for the Pancake Tortoise (2025\u20132035). The plan was unveiled in Chiakariga, Tharaka Nithi County\u2014one of the species\u2019 last strongholds in a powerful gathering of conservationists, local leaders, and national agencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Action Plan was developed under the leadership of the Kenya Wildlife Service, with generous support from the Turtle Survival Alliance and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, both channelled through Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. It was created in close collaboration with species experts from the National Museums of Kenya, ensuring a science-based and collaboration-driven approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are not just residents of this land; we are its guardians. And it is our duty to protect and preserve our ecosystem for generations to come.\u201d \u2014Hon. Nyaga Muisrael, Deputy Governor, Tharaka Nithi County<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The Governor of Tharaka Nithi County, Onesmus Njuki, during the launch.<\/em> Photo: Tharaka Nithi County<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why the Pancake Tortoise Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saving this small, elusive species isn\u2019t just about conservation, it\u2019s about what that conservation represents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For communities, it means functional ecosystems and more sustainable land-use practices in dryland regions. For conservationists, it\u2019s a rare chance to reverse the decline of a species before it disappears. And for donors and partners, the plan offers a high-impact investment in promoting biodiversity, upholding local stewardship, and generating ecosystem resilience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis extraordinary creature is facing a serious threat. It\u2019s up to all of us, as Kenyans, to secure its future\u2014and that of our ecosystems.\u201d \u2014Dr. Erastus Kanga, Director General, Kenya Wildlife Service<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why This Moment Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The National Recovery and Conservation Action Plan offers the opportunity for a proactive, coordinated effort to safeguard the pancake tortoise before the species disappears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The launch was more than a ceremony\u2014it was a public commitment to act and a powerful example of what can happen when collaboration, leadership, and local knowledge come together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And perhaps most importantly, it signalled this: we still have time to change the story. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Photo: Tharaka Nithi County<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Lewa\u2019s Role in the Mission<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy has been part of this journey since 2019, supporting research, engaging local communities, and contributing to the development of the national strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re not just conserving wildlife; we\u2019re investing in people and landscapes. This plan is a model for how recovery is done, with science, with community, and with heart.\u201d \u2014John Kinoti, Chief of Programmes and Partnerships, Lewa<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lewa will continue to play an active role in implementation, helping to mobilize resources, monitor progress, and strengthen the collaboration between conservation partners, county governments, and local stewards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Turtle Survival Alliance is honored to stand alongside the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, the National Museums of Kenya and the Kenya Wildlife Service in the development and implementation of the National Pancake Tortoise Recovery Plan. We deeply respect their long-standing commitment to conservation in Kenya and are dedicated to providing the support needed to ensure the success of this crucial initiative for the Pancake Tortoise.\u201d \u2014Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux, PhD, President & CEO, Turtle Survival Alliance<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How You Can Be Part of the Story<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udf0d <\/strong>Spread the word \u2013 Share the tortoise\u2019s story to raise awareness. 
\ud83d\udc9a Support on-the-ground conservation \u2013 Your donations help fund research, habitat protection, and education. 
\ud83d\udce2 Advocate \u2013 Call for responsible land use and strong wildlife protection laws. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Closing: A Small Creature, A Big Future<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pancake Tortoise may be soft-shelled and silent, but its survival speaks volumes about the urgency of species conservation, the power of collaboration, and the promise of action taken in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Lewa, we are proud to stand with government institutions, local communities, and partners worldwide to ensure this extraordinary tortoise has a fighting chance and a future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can read the Action Plan here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read More: Critically Endangered Pancake Tortoise Discovered on Lewa<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

–<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thank you to the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy for this guest feature.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By the Lewa Communication Team, featuring our conservation partner, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. In the rocky crevices of Kenya\u2019s drylands, where sunbaked stones form silent shelters, lives a creature many have never seen \u2014 and few even know exists, the Pancake Tortoise. The Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) isn\u2019t like other tortoises. Its shell is flat and flexible, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":8542,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8539","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-in-the-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA Second Chance for a Forgotten Species: Kenya\u2019s Plan to Save the Pancake Tortoise - Turtle Survival Alliance<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"A Second Chance for a Forgotten Species: Kenya\u2019s Plan to Save the Pancake Tortoise - Turtle Survival Alliance\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"By the Lewa Communication Team, featuring our conservation partner, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. In the rocky crevices of Kenya\u2019s drylands, where sunbaked stones form silent shelters, lives a creature many have never seen \u2014 and few even know exists, the Pancake Tortoise. The Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) isn\u2019t like other tortoises. Its shell is flat and flexible, […]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Turtle Survival Alliance\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-05-23T13:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-08-12T18:30:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pancake-4.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"522\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Elena Duran\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Elena Duran\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/\",\"name\":\"A Second Chance for a Forgotten Species: Kenya\u2019s Plan to Save the Pancake Tortoise - Turtle Survival Alliance\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pancake-4.jpeg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-05-23T13:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-08-12T18:30:50+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/#\/schema\/person\/9675e2a42afc358292addd545f8c4df2\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pancake-4.jpeg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pancake-4.jpeg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":522},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"A Second Chance for a Forgotten Species: Kenya\u2019s Plan to Save the Pancake Tortoise\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/\",\"name\":\"Turtle Survival Alliance\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/#\/schema\/person\/9675e2a42afc358292addd545f8c4df2\",\"name\":\"Elena Duran\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2e1375a9fdfa943f144566db0a36b224a6f5c90d6baf902eb8d552ad1dcd9fa3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2e1375a9fdfa943f144566db0a36b224a6f5c90d6baf902eb8d552ad1dcd9fa3?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Elena Duran\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"A Second Chance for a Forgotten Species: Kenya\u2019s Plan to Save the Pancake Tortoise - Turtle Survival Alliance","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"A Second Chance for a Forgotten Species: Kenya\u2019s Plan to Save the Pancake Tortoise - Turtle Survival Alliance","og_description":"By the Lewa Communication Team, featuring our conservation partner, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. In the rocky crevices of Kenya\u2019s drylands, where sunbaked stones form silent shelters, lives a creature many have never seen \u2014 and few even know exists, the Pancake Tortoise. The Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) isn\u2019t like other tortoises. Its shell is flat and flexible, […]","og_url":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/","og_site_name":"Turtle Survival Alliance","article_published_time":"2025-05-23T13:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-08-12T18:30:50+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":522,"url":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pancake-4.jpeg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Elena Duran","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Elena Duran","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/","url":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/","name":"A Second Chance for a Forgotten Species: Kenya\u2019s Plan to Save the Pancake Tortoise - Turtle Survival Alliance","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pancake-4.jpeg","datePublished":"2025-05-23T13:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2025-08-12T18:30:50+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/#\/schema\/person\/9675e2a42afc358292addd545f8c4df2"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pancake-4.jpeg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/pancake-4.jpeg","width":1000,"height":522},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/a-second-chance-for-a-forgotten-species-kenyas-plan-to-save-the-pancake-tortoise\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"A Second Chance for a Forgotten Species: Kenya\u2019s Plan to Save the Pancake Tortoise"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/#website","url":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/","name":"Turtle Survival Alliance","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/#\/schema\/person\/9675e2a42afc358292addd545f8c4df2","name":"Elena Duran","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2e1375a9fdfa943f144566db0a36b224a6f5c90d6baf902eb8d552ad1dcd9fa3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/2e1375a9fdfa943f144566db0a36b224a6f5c90d6baf902eb8d552ad1dcd9fa3?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Elena Duran"}}]}},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8539","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8539"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8539\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8542"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8539"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8539"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/turtlesurvival.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8539"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}