It may seem gross to us, but tortoises eating their own poop is actually a normal and healthy behavior. There are a few reasons why tortoises do this:
First, when a tortoise eats its own poop, it's getting valuable nutrients that it might not otherwise have access to. Tortoise feces contains high levels of fiber which helps keep their digestive system healthy. Additionally, the bacteria in tortoise feces can help break down food and make vitamins and minerals more bioavailable to the tortoise.
Second, by eating its own poop, a tortoise can avoid being eaten by predators. Some predators will follow a tortoise's trail of feces back to the tortoise itself! By consuming its own waste products, the tortoise makes itself less attractive as prey.
Finally, eating feces helps spread beneficial gut bacteria around the Tortoise's habitat. This aids in breaking down organic matter and cycling nutrients back into the soil.
So there you have it! While we may think it's gross, there are actually several good reasons why Tortoises eat their own poop.