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.