Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi caused severe flooding at the Lavavola Tortoise Center in Madagascar, resulting in the death of hundreds of critically endangered tortoises. Staff and volunteers have relocated survivors, but ongoing recovery efforts face challenges due to infrastructure damage. Community support has been crucial in providing food for the affected tortoises.
Severe flooding at the Lavavola Tortoise Center in southwestern Madagascar has resulted in the death of hundreds of tortoises, following Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi on January 16. The cyclone caused torrential rains that raised water levels by 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) over 10 hectares (25 acres), leading to the drowning of 450 radiated and spider tortoises who were unable to escape or were washed away.
Hery Razafimamonjiraibe, the country director for Turtle Survival Alliance Madagascar, reported, “It was less than 20 hours of rain, and the whole area was flooded. It is unprecedented. We have never encountered this kind of flooding before.” The region is recovering from a drought that made the soil less capable of absorbing heavy rainfall, exacerbating the situation during the flooding event.
Currently, staff and volunteers have relocated nearly all surviving tortoises to elevated enclosures to protect them from continued exposure to the cold floodwaters, which heightens the risk of pneumonia. The floodwaters are receding, but accessibility to the tortoise sanctuary remains compromised due to inadequate infrastructure, while approximately 15 staff members’ homes were also severely affected.
Community volunteers have been essential, providing over 2 metric tons of food for the tortoises as recovery efforts continue. The radiated tortoise, once abundant, has seen its population decline by three-quarters due to poaching and illegal trafficking, as emphasized by Jordan Gray from the Turtle Survival Alliance.
Before striking Madagascar, Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi caused significant flash floods in Mozambique’s Nampula region, resulting in 11 deaths and affecting nearly 249,000 individuals, according to the U.N. International Organization for Migration.
The Lavavola Tortoise Center plays a critical role in housing and protecting over 12,000 critically endangered tortoises in Madagascar. Following a year of extreme drought, Tropical Cyclone Dikeledi brought unprecedented rainfall, leading to severe flooding. This event not only resulted in the tragic loss of tortoises but also affected the local community, illustrating the vulnerability of both wildlife and human habitats to climate-related disasters.
The flooding at the Lavavola Tortoise Center highlights the devastating impact of climate change on endangered species and communities. Despite the tragic loss of tortoises, ongoing efforts from volunteers and staff emphasize community resilience. The situation serves as a reminder of the urgent need for conservation and protection measures against poaching and habitat loss.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
