A new study has found that tortoises may experience moods similar to humans and other animals, challenging old ideas about reptile behavior.
Researchers at the University of Lincoln in the U.K. discovered that red-footed tortoises can show signs of long-term emotional states—something previously thought to be limited mostly to mammals and birds.
This breakthrough study suggests that tortoises are capable of more complex feelings than many people realized.
It could have major implications for how we care for reptiles in homes, zoos, and wildlife centers.
The researchers studied 15 red-footed tortoises using a test called a “cognitive bias test.”
This test is often used with people and animals to understand how mood influences decision-making.
For example, people in a good mood tend to view uncertain situations more positively, while those in a bad mood often assume the worst.
The same applies to animals: if they are feeling good, they are more likely to respond optimistically.
The team created situations where the tortoises had to interpret whether an unfamiliar cue meant something good or not.
They found that tortoises kept in enriched environments—those with more space, stimulation, and natural features—were more likely to react with optimism.
This suggests they were in a better mood compared to tortoises kept in less stimulating conditions.
To further understand the connection between mood and behavior, the scientists tested how the tortoises reacted to new objects and unfamiliar settings.
The ones that had made optimistic choices in the first test were also less anxious when faced with new things.
This finding supported the idea that their mood influenced their behavior, just like it does in humans and other animals.
This research is important because it shows, for the first time, that reptiles may experience long-term emotional states—a key part of what scientists call “sentience.” Sentience means the ability to feel and be aware of experiences, including emotions like happiness or stress.
Understanding whether reptiles can feel emotions helps improve how they are treated, especially in captivity.
In the U.K., the Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 already recognizes that many animals can feel, which affects how they are protected by law. This study could lead to better standards for reptile care.
Professor Anna Wilkinson, one of the study leaders, emphasized that as reptiles become more common as pets, it’s essential to understand their emotional needs. Co-researcher Professor Oliver Burman added that this research shifts our understanding of reptile behavior and could change how we care for and interact with these animals.
It also suggests that emotions and moods may be more widespread across the animal kingdom than previously believed—possibly reaching back hundreds of millions of years to early vertebrate evolution.
