Geochelone gigantea has been heavily hunted for its meat and oil. Introduced species have been a severe threat to the Aldabra giant tortoise.
Goechelone gigantea inhabits islands in the Indian ocean close to and including Madagascar Seychelles and Tanzania, specifically Aldabra Island near the Seychelles. Its habitat includes grasslands, scrub areas and mangrove swamps. It is strictly herbivorous and is both a grazer and browser.
Small populations of Geochelone gigantea have been introduced to neighbouring islands (Mauritius and Reunion). Of the four races of giant tortoises once present on islands in the Indian Ocean, only the Aldabra tortoise survived beyond the beginning of the 19th century.
The giant tortoise population on Aldabra has been estimated at 150,000 individuals (Bourn and Coe, 1978). This colony is at present the largest population of giant tortoises in the world and remains a living reminder of how vulnerable nature can be to over-exploitation.
G. gigantea is considered as "Vulnerable" by the IUCN. CITES lists the species as "Appendix 2".