Govind Tekale
A massive rescue effort has saved over 10,000 endangered tortoises in southern Madagascar after Cyclone Dikeledi hit the region this January. The flood waters rose to one meter (3.2 feet) at the Lavavolo Tortoise Centre, putting thousands of rare radiated and spider tortoises at risk.
Local people, sanctuary workers, and police officers worked together to rescue the tortoises. They waded through flood waters with large containers, picking up the tortoises that were swimming for their lives. Quick thinking led rescuers to turn broken pieces of buildings into floating rafts to carry the tortoises to safety.
The rescue shows both success and loss in wildlife protection. While most tortoises survived, about 700 died after getting trapped under rocks and debris. The surviving tortoises, many between 25 and 50 years old, can live for more than a century if protected.
“Fortunately, most of the tortoises were able to float,” says Hery Razafimamonjiraibe, who leads the Turtle Survival Alliance in Madagascar. “Tortoises are actually very good swimmers, you should see them.”
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These tortoises face serious threats in Madagascar. Their striking yellow and black shells make them targets for illegal pet traders. People also hunt them for food. The numbers tell a sad story – these tortoises once numbered in the tens of millions but have now disappeared from 65% of their natural home.
The Lavavolo Centre itself shows this ongoing struggle. In 2018, it needed major repairs to house 10,000 tortoises taken from wildlife traffickers. Now, the centre faces another rebuild after the cyclone damaged much of its structure.
The rescue effort matters deeply for the tortoises’ survival. These animals can live for over a century– and one famous case shows their potential. A tortoise given to Tongan royalty by explorer Captain James Cook in 1777 lived until 1966, reaching 188 years old.
Getting an exact count of saved tortoises remains tricky. “These tortoises can move faster than you think,” Razafimamonjiraibe explains, describing the ongoing challenge of tracking the rescued animals.
The flood’s impact reaches beyond immediate survival. The damage to the sanctuary and the community’s quick response highlight the importance of being prepared for natural disasters in wildlife conservation centres.
