The Turtles' Village is a non-profit-making Association opened in October 1996. A team of 5 permanent members of staff and one specialised biologist will be able to answer all of your questions. Since it opened, the Turtles' Village has been able to recover from debilitating captivity more than 110 adult tortoises, and 300 tortoise babies were born in their hatcheries. In a few years time they will release tortoises in supervised areas (National Parks and Fauna Reservations) in order to sustain the wild tortoise population. The information and the participation of the public "guided visits, press articles, interviews, videos, teaching documents" are essential for the success of implementing a safeguard programme which claims to be realistic, practical and effective. The centre welcomes guided tours, foreign tourists, nationals and school parties, all lovers of nature. The Turtles' Village is a place to study and preserve all Senegalese turtle species, particularly the spurred tortoise (the most threatened reptile in Senegal, which can live to 150 years). The turtles of Senegal are protected species and The Turtles' Village gives them safe harbour. Six species of Senegalese Turtles now recovering in captivity in the village are studied. Visitors will see the following specimens :

• The African Spurred Tortoise, Geochelone sulcat,a which is the largest continental tortoise in the World. Living in deserts of the African Sahel, it can reach 100 kg.
• The Bell's Eastern Hinged Tortoise, Kinixys belliana, which lives in the forests of the Casamance (south of Senegal).
• The Senegal Flapshell Turtle, Cyclanorbis senegalensis, lives in the estuaries of the large rivers of Senegal and Gambia.
• The Adanson's Mud Turtle, Pelusios Adansoni, and the West African Black Turtle, Pelusios niger, which survives in the north of Senegal (St Louis, Richartoll).
• The Common African Helmeted Turtle, Pelusios subrufa,the most widespread in Senegal and lives in the temporary fens in the centre of the country.