Cyclone Dikeledi Hits Madagascar: 10,000+ Tortoises Rescued

Govind Tekale

Massive floods from Cyclone Dikeledi submerged 10,000 endangered tortoises at Madagascar's Lavavolo Tortoise Centre under meter-high waters this January.

Photo Source: Smith sonian’s national zoo (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Local communities, sanctuary staff, and police officers transformed debris into makeshift rafts to rescue swimming tortoises from rising floodwaters.

Photo Source: Florida fish and wildlife (CC BY-ND 2.0)

While rescuers saved thousands, 700 tortoises perished after being trapped beneath rocks and debris during the catastrophic flooding.

Photo Source:  itoldya test1 - GetArchive

"Tortoises are actually very good swimmers, you should see them," shares Hery Razafimamonjiraibe, who heads Madagascar's Turtle Survival Alliance.

Photo Source: Robertocostapinto (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Poaching and illegal pet trade targeting their distinctive yellow-black shells have pushed these tortoises to extinction across 65% of their natural habitat.

Photo Source: Pickpic (CC0 1.0)

From tens of millions, these endangered species now face survival challenges, with the Lavavolo Centre housing 10,000 tortoises seized from wildlife traffickers.

Photo Source: USAID Asia (CC BY-NC 2.0)

A historical case demonstrates their longevity potential - a tortoise gifted to Tongan royalty by Captain James Cook in 1777 lived until 1966, reaching 188 years.

Photo Source: Charles and clinton (CC BY-SA 2.0)

The cyclone's destruction of the sanctuary, previously rebuilt in 2018, exposes critical vulnerabilities in wildlife conservation infrastructure.

Photo Source: LTCOL stu brown (CC BY 3.0 NZ)

Tracking rescued tortoises proves challenging as Razafimamonjiraibe notes, "These tortoises can move faster than you think."

Photo Source: Caaboompics/Pexels

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