Seventy radiated tortoises (Astrochelys radiata) were rescued from a poaching operation in Madagascar on Wednesday, November 25.
The rescue was a joint operation between DREDD-Atsimoandrefana (Ministère de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable), Madagascar National Parks, and the local Gendarmerie Nationale – Madagascar, reads The Turtle Survival Alliance’s (TSA) Facebook page.
The juvenile, subadult, and adult tortoises were seized from an encampment in Madagascar’s Atsimo-Andrefana Region, a hotspot for poaching activity. The maligned tortoises were found tied together, some with holes drilled into their shells.
Following their seizure, the tortoises were transported to the TSA’s Lavavolo Tortoise Center for medical triage and long-term care. Here, they will live in natural expansive enclosures built into their native spiny forest habitat, safe from poachers’ grasp.
Posted by Turtle Survival Alliance on Tuesday, 24 November 2020
Posted by Turtle Survival Alliance on Tuesday, 24 November 2020
‘The TSA would like to thank all of those responsible for the rescue and safe transport of these tortoises,’ the organisation said.
Radiated tortoises are native to Madagascar, and are ranked as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List.
You can help the TSA care for these rescued tortoises by becoming a TSA DONOR. To get involved, click here: http://bit.ly/DonateToTheTSA
If you are interested to see how the Turtle Survival Alliance makes a positive impact for tortoises and freshwater turtles across their many range-country programmes, watch this webinar:
Picture: Wikimedia commons
