Spur-Thighed Tortoises - Testudo gracea iberica are natural habitants of the Sangachal semi-desert area. They were collected during the construction work of the Sangachal terminal with the intention of releasing them in the future. Spur-thighed tortoises are endangered species, included in the International Union for Conservation of Nature "Red List" of species at risk of extinction. Azerbaijan is one of approximately 25 countries in which they can be found. They live for roughly 30-35 years in the wild but have been known to survive for up to 150 years in zoos. The oldest tortoise at our centre is about 40 years old. You can work out how old a tortoise is by counting the number of rings on the circles on their shells. At the Caspian Energy Centre, we feed them with fruits, vegetables and grass. Tortoises hibernate during the winter months - from the end of November to the end of March - in order to conserve energy.

For visitors' viewing, the sanctuary is open from April to November only.