Territoriality. — Thirteen video events of aggressive behavior
were captured in station 2 and 3, with tortoises (identified as males)
fighting off other males from entering into the crevice/territory. The
fighting bouts involved biting, rigorous pushing and overturning of one
another, and as is usual for the Pancake tortoises, righting themselves
quickly and then proceeding with the fight. The loser in the fight ran
away and the overcomer eventually retained the territory (fig. 4).
Besides camera-trapping data, two incidences were observed ad libitum in
station 2 and 3 where a male Pancake tortoise aggressively fought back
another incoming male from entering into the crevice.
It was noted that while territorial adult males fought other incoming
males, females were not aggressive against one another. More than two
females (up to five) were observed harmoniously residing with each other
in the same crevice throughout the study period. These were in the
company of only one territorial male. However, sub-adult males were on
two occasions found inhabiting the same crevice with a male juvenile.