Kenya has launched a bold 10-year National Recovery and Conservation Action Plan to save the critically endangered Pancake Tortoise (Malacochersus tornieri) from the brink of extinction.
Led by the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) Director General Prof. Erustus Kanga, PhD, EBS, the launch ceremony was held at Chiakariga Subcounty and attended by a diverse coalition of stakeholders, including KWS Board of Trustees member Hon. Chachu Ganya, conservation experts, and representatives from local and international wildlife organizations.
The Pancake Tortoise, locally known as Kobe Kama Chapati or Kobe Mawe, is one of the world’s most unique reptiles—distinguished by its flat, flexible shell and rock-dwelling agility.
However, its rarity and biological peculiarity have made it a prime target for illegal wildlife trade, while habitat destruction and environmental degradation have pushed its population to critical levels.“This Action Plan isn’t just about saving a tortoise,” said Prof.
Kanga during the launch. “It’s about preserving a living emblem of Kenya’s biodiversity—one that defies evolutionary norms but now faces extinction. With females laying just one egg per year, every loss is devastating.”
Developed through a multi-agency partnership including KWS, the National Museums of Kenya, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, and international experts, the 2025–2035 plan outlines actionable strategies for reversing the species’ decline. These include:
Habitat restoration and legal protectionIntensified anti-poaching operationsCommunity-led conservation initiativesScientific monitoring and ecological researchSustainable land-use partnerships with local stakeholdersHon.
Chachu Ganya highlighted the strength of the coalition backing the plan, crediting organizations such as Turtle Survival Alliance, Re:wild, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, and Turtle Conservation Fund—all working in coordination with the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group.
With over 95 percent of pancake tortoises living outside protected areas—mainly in Tharaka-Nithi, Kitui, Embu, Meru, Isiolo, Laikipia, Samburu, Marsabit, and Tana River counties—community participation is at the heart of the conservation effort.“This is a test of our collective will,” said Hon. Chachu. “It’s not just about scientists or rangers, but about every Kenyan doing their part—reporting illegal trade, protecting natural habitats, and ensuring this species has a future.”
The plan aligns with the KWS 2024–2028 Strategic Plan and Kenya’s Wildlife Conservation and Management Act (Section 49), reinforcing the country’s globally lauded model of integrating national parks with community conservancies.“This is our battle cry,” Hon. Chachu declared. “Let this be the Decade of the Pancake Tortoise—a decade of revival, resilience, and results. Together, we will show that Kenya’s conservation model is not just visionary—it works.”
The launch of the Pancake Tortoise Action Plan sets a new precedent for species recovery in Africa, sending a strong message that with collective action, even the most imperiled creatures can be brought back from the edge.