The Radiated  Tortoise survives in the wild only in the  southern area of the island of Madagascar. It likes a semiarid  forest habitat that consists of grasses and thorn bushes.  A female Radiated Tortoise can lay eggs up to seven times per year.  It takes about 21 days for the eggs to hatch.  The coloring of this species becomes more even as it ages.   There is one Radiated Tortoise  that lives in a zoo in Queens Land, Australia that has reached the age of 132 years!  

    The Radiated Tortoise has become endangered because of the destruction of it's habitat.  It is sold for it's attractive shell and it is also used as a food source.   The Radiated Tortoise may have been saved from total extinction because the natives of Madagascar believe that the tortoise is magic and would not kill it.   That type of protection may not exist anymore because the natives do not believe these superstitions today.

    Strict environmental legislation protects this species of tortoise in the island of Madagascar.   some of these tortoises live in natural reserves.