Thousands of endangered tortoises in Madagascar have been rescued after flooding overwhelmed their sanctuary

 

An undated photo provided by the Turtle Survival Alliance captures staff and volunteers rescuing thousands of endangered tortoises displaced by flooding at the Lavavolo Tortoise Center in southern Madagascar during Cyclone Dikeledi. (Lavavolo Tortoise Center via AP)

A southern Madagascar community rallied together to save thousands of critically endangered tortoises swept from their sanctuary and left struggling for survival in floodwaters caused by a tropical cyclone.

The Lavavolo Tortoise Center, home to 12,000 radiated and spider tortoises confiscated from illegal wildlife traffickers, faced devastation when Cyclone Dikeledi struck in mid-January. Floodwaters rose to a meter (3.2 feet), engulfing the sanctuary and carrying away many tortoises, most of which were between 25 and 50 years old—young by tortoise standards.

Sanctuary staff, local residents, and even police joined forces in the rescue effort, wading through floodwaters with large containers to retrieve the displaced tortoises. Some rescuers improvised by turning damaged structures into rafts to help transport the animals. Hery Razafimamonjiraibe, Madagascar’s director for the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA), expressed optimism that more than 10,000 tortoises had been saved, though an official count remained challenging. “Tortoises can move faster than you’d think when they want to,” he noted, adding, “They rarely cooperate.”

Unfortunately, around 700 dead tortoises have been recovered, having been trapped by rocks and debris during the floods. Razafimamonjiraibe noted that most of the surviving tortoises floated to safety, adding, “Tortoises are actually very good swimmers. You should see them.”

While the majority of the rescued tortoises have been returned to the sanctuary, the floods dealt a significant blow to the Lavavolo Center, which lost much of its infrastructure. The center underwent a major renovation in 2018 when authorities confiscated 10,000 radiated tortoises from wildlife traffickers and needed a secure place to house them.

Most of the tortoises at Lavavolo are radiated tortoises, a species native to Madagascar and nearby islands like Reunion and Mauritius. Known for their striking yellow-and-black shell patterns, these tortoises grow to about 30 centimeters (11.8 inches) in length, can live more than 100 years, and have an intriguing history. One radiated tortoise, reportedly gifted by British explorer Captain James Cook to the Tongan royal family in 1777, lived until 1966, reaching an estimated age of 188.

Radiated and spider tortoises are critically endangered due to habitat destruction and poaching. Often trafficked for their beauty or consumed as food, their population has plummeted. Once numbering in the tens of millions, radiated tortoises have disappeared from 65% of their natural habitat, according to the TSA.

Despite the recent tragedy, the coordinated rescue efforts offer hope for these iconic species, underscoring the importance of continued conservation efforts to protect Madagascar’s unique wildlife.