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Cancer is extremely rare in turtles, finds a new study
A new study, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, provides the strongest evidence to date that cancer is extremely rare in turtles—a finding that could offer valuable clues for preventing or fighting cancer in humans.
While previous research had hinted that cancer might be uncommon in turtles, the new analysis, entitled "Do turtles get cancer?" and published in BioScience, shows that only about 1% of individuals are affected, far less than in mammals or birds. The study was led by Dr Ylenia Chiari from the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham, alongside Dr Scott Glaberman from the University of Birmingham, in collaboration with a team of researchers from zoos across the US, UK, and Europe.
The team analysed medical records and necropsies (autopsies) from hundreds of zoo turtles, including individuals from Chester Zoo in the UK.
The work was only possible thanks to a global network of zoos that have spent decades keeping detailed records and collaborating to support science, highlighting the vital role zoos can play in discovery research. The findings were striking not only for the low number of cancer cases, but also because, when tumours did appear, they almost never spread.
Some turtle species grow to tremendous size. Galapagos and Aldabra giant tortoises, for example, can weigh hundreds of kilograms. Turtles are also known for their long lifespans, and many are centenarians. One radiated tortoise at Chester Zoo named Burt was born in 1945 and may live to over 100, while some Galapagos and Aldabra giant tortoises have lived beyond 150 years.
Species that are both large and long-lived are expected to face higher cancer risk, since more cells mean more opportunities for something to go wrong. But turtles seem to defy this pattern.
Why are turtles so resistant to cancer? Their secret may lie in strong defences against cell damage, a slow metabolism that reduces cellular stress, and unique genes that protect against cancer. Turtles could offer valuable clues for preventing or treating cancer in humans and are a promising model for studying healthy aging and cancer resistance.
Dr Ylenia Chiari said: “Turtles, especially iconic species like Galapagos and Aldabra giant tortoises, are famous for living long lives and growing to tremendous sizes. You’d expect that to mean more cancer, but our study, which combines decades of zoo records with previous research, shows how incredibly rare cancer is in these animals. It highlights turtles as an untapped model for understanding cancer resistance and healthy aging, and it shows the vital role zoos play in advancing science through collaboration.”
Dr Scott Glaberman added: “Biodiversity has so much to teach us about how the world works. While fascinating in their own right, extreme species like giant tortoises may have already solved many of the problems humans face, including those related to aging and cancer. That makes biodiversity doubly worthy of protection.”
Dr Helena Turner, Research Officer at Chester Zoo, said: “This research underscores the immense value of zoo-based science. At Chester Zoo, we’ve long been committed to detailed health monitoring and the long-term care of our animals. It’s fantastic to see these efforts not only contribute to advancing scientific knowledge around cancer resistance but also support vital conservation work to protect these remarkable species that may hold keys to medical breakthroughs benefiting both wildlife and humans.”
Several species of turtles are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List, due to different threats including pressure from climate change, habitat loss, and illegal pet trade.
Many of the zoos that contributed data to the study, including Chester Zoo, are involved in conservation breeding programmes that aim to pull species like these back from extinction.
World’s rarest equid born at Chester Zoo
Conservationists celebrate birth of an incredibly rare onager foal - one of the rarest animals on Earth
Onagers are a hoofed mammal, from the family equidae, which includes horses, donkeys, mules and zebras
It’s estimated that no more than 600 onagers remain in the wild
Experts say birth will shine a spotlight on ‘overlooked’ species and zoos could prevent their extinction
Chester is a leading part of a European-wide conservation breeding programme that’s working to safeguard the species
Conservationists at Chester Zoo are celebrating the arrival of an exceptionally rare onager foal.
Related to the domestic donkey, the onager is an Asiatic wild ass, which lives in the semi-desert regions of Iran.
The foal was born to mum Azita following a year-long pregnancy. Zookeepers have revealed the new arrival is male and have called him Jasper - a name with Persian origin that means ‘bringer of treasure’.
Similar wild asses were once found in abundance across the deserts of Mongolia, China and Iran, but now very few species remain, and onagers only survive in two small, protected areas in Iran. They have suffered at the hands of illegal poaching, overgrazing, drought and disease passed from farm animals which has seen their numbers plummet by more than 50% in the last two decades alone, leaving just 600 in the wild today.
As a result, the species has been listed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) – facing a very high chance of extinction.
Chester is currently the only zoo in the UK, and one of very few zoos in the world, which works with the animals due to the challenges of breeding and caring for the rare equids.
Mike Jordan, Animal and Plant Director at Chester Zoo, said:
“Onagers are the most threatened equid species in the world and one of the rarest animals that we care for here at the zoo, so we’re absolutely delighted a new foal has been born – he’ll help to boost global numbers of this little-known species.
“The leggy youngster, who has been named Jasper by our team, is doing very well and mum Azita is doing a fantastic job of nurturing and bonding with her new charge. He’s full of energy and enjoys playfully kicking up sand as he races around his habitat.
“With numbers having declined so rapidly in the wild, and the species now teetering on the edge of existence in Iran, it’s sadly very possible that onagers could become extinct in the wild within our lifetime. That’s why we’re part of an international conservation breeding programme, to ensure there’s a viable safety-net population of onager in zoos. In time, Jasper will go on to contribute to these efforts, helping to safeguard this charismatic species and preserve options for their conservation into the future.”
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