African Chelonian Institute (ACI)

About us

The African Chelonian Institute (ACI) is a private, non-profit organization registered in Senegal, whose mission is to promote the long-term conservation of turtle, tortoise and terrapin populations across the African continent through research, education, and grassroots collaboration.

The Institute’s vision is multi-faceted:
• it serves as a breeding facility for endangered African tortoises and freshwater turtles,
• it builds grassroots programs to re-introduce turtles back to their natural habitats,
• it houses one of the largest collections of reference specimens in Africa and a library of turtle media for study, and
• it serves as a training center for students and researchers, as well as an educational center open to the public.

Our work consists of four components: Research – Education – Collaboration – Conservation

The African Chelonian Institute ongoing project built in phases and consist of the main components:
• Living collection
• Specimen reference collection
• A multimedia library
• Ethno-zoological and paleontological collection

Activities:
• We have a temporary breeding facility in Ngazobil, Senegal currently we are bulding the Turtle & Nature PARK the first permanent breeding center in the African continent entirely dedicated to promote African Chelonian Conservation particulary the rescue and release of marine turtle species at Mbodiene Sud, Senegal, approximately two hours south of the country capital : Dakar.
• Additionally, field research on African turtle species continues in order to increase knowledge and conservation efforts. Currently this project’s field effort is focused on Tocc-Tocc Reserve in northern Senegal, a community-based reserve created by Tomas Diagne and the local people there to protect habitat for the endemic Adanson’s mud turtle, as well as other species. Also the Cinixys Conservation Initiative based in Ivory Coast wich aim to conserve the critically endangered Home Hingeback tortoise species (Kinixys homeana) in the global West Africa’s rainforest biodiversity hotspost.
• African Scholarship Program: Initiated by the African Chelonian Institute, the inaugural African Scholarship Program (ASP), a training course for Africa’s turtle biologists. This initiative is a vital response to the ongoing and unsustainable loss of turtle populations throughout the African continent due to severe bushmeat consumption, commercial exploitation and numerous other threats. Extirpation of many of Africa’s turtle & tortoise populations and extinction of several species is inevitable unless concerted and efficient conservation measures are taken.

Mr Tomas Diagne is currently the Director of African Chelonian Institute (ACI).

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.