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From a sample census of giant tortoises in the south-eastern region of Aldabra atoll, the size of the markable population was estimated as 87 300. A subsequent recapture study of the same population gave an estimate of 68 100. Sampling errors are unlikely to account for the difference, which is significant at the 1% level. After taking into account obvious violations of the underlying assumptions the difference remains. The sample census estimate is thought to be the more reliable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]