For Immediate Release
Third Cyclone in Two Months Ravages Madagascar’s Tortoise Conservation Centers
March 3, 2025
CONTACT: Jordan Gray, Turtle Survival Alliance, (912) 659-0978, jgray@turtlesurvival.org
- Tropical Cyclone Honde has caused severe flooding and infrastructure damage in southern Madagascar, impacting Turtle Survival Alliance’s tortoise rescue operations and prompting emergency response efforts.
- The Lavavolo Tortoise Center, facing its third severe cyclone in under two months, has relocated affected tortoises to higher ground, while staff and local communities work together to ensure their safety despite impassable roads and logistical challenges.
- Turtle Survival Alliance’s two primary tortoise conservation centers in Southern Madagascar, which care for over 22,000 critically endangered tortoises rescued from illegal wildlife trafficking, remain essential to repatriation and conservation efforts.
Antananarivo, Madagascar – Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) announced today that southern Madagascar, home to its primary tortoise rescue centers, has suffered critical damage from Tropical Cyclone Honde. The cyclone, which brought torrential rains and severe winds to the region starting on February 27, has caused significant flooding and infrastructure damage, impacting TSA operations. The organization is prioritizing the safety of its staff and the critically endangered tortoises in its care while assessing the damage and coordinating emergency response efforts.
At the Lavavolo Tortoise Center in the Atsimo-Andrefana region, all tortoises affected by the floodwaters have been relocated to elevated areas. Essential staff remain on-site, while others have been moved to the nearby village of Itampolo. Floodwaters reached 1.8 meters (6 feet), submerging roads and enclosures. To date, 42 tortoises have died from this most recent storm. Transport to LTC is only possible by watercraft, as all roads are impassable. TSA is preparing supply shipments from Tuléar once maritime transport resumes after March 5. Local communities are assisting with animal care, and additional security support has been requested.
This marks the third time in less than two months that the Lavavolo Tortoise Center has endured a severe tropical cyclone. The previous two cyclones, Dikeledi on January 16 and Elvis on January 28, caused significant damage to the facilities and resulted in the deaths of 934 tortoises. The relentless onslaught of extreme weather events has put immense strain on conservation efforts, highlighting the urgent need for emergency response initiatives.
“The resilience of our staff and the surrounding communities in the face of these relentless storms is extraordinary,” said Hery Razafimamonjiraibe, Country Director for Turtle Survival Alliance Madagascar. “To endure three devastating cyclones in such a short span of time is an unimaginable challenge, yet they continue to work tirelessly to protect these endangered tortoises. Their dedication, along with the support of our partners and the local communities, is critical to our recovery efforts.”
At the Tortoise Conservation Center, Turtle Survival Alliance Madagascar’s de facto headquarters in the Androy region, flooding has disrupted access, leaving some staff stranded. Transport by four-wheel drive vehicles remains impossible, though zebu (cattle) carts are an emergency option. There is no structural damage, and no tortoise fatalities have been reported. Non-essential activities are suspended until conditions improve, and communication with headquarters is ongoing.
The Lavavolo Tortoise Center and Tortoise Conservation Center are fundamental to Turtle Survival Alliance’s operations in southern Madagascar and serve as lynchpins of our Confiscation to Reintroduction Strategy for Malagasy tortoises. Together, these centers care for more than 22,000 critically endangered tortoises seized from illegal wildlife trafficking. It is TSA’s goal to reintroduce the tortoises cared for at these centers to the wild in protected habitats.
“Our tortoise conservation centers are essential to repatriating and restoring populations of critically endangered tortoises in Madagascar,” said Marc Dupuis-Desormeaux, President & CEO of Turtle Survival Alliance. “The repeated devastation from these storms is a stark reminder of the challenges we face, but our commitment remains unwavering. Turtle Survival Alliance, along with our partners and supporters worldwide, stands with our staff as they confront yet another violent storm, ensuring these vital conservation efforts continue.”
In response to these repeated natural disasters, TSA is urgently seeking emergency funding to support rescue operations, rebuild damaged infrastructure, and provide continued care for the thousands of tortoises in its facilities. So far, over 300 individuals and organizations from around the world have come together to raise more than $150,000 for these critical relief efforts.
Turtle Survival Alliance thanks the Ministère de l’Environnement et du Développement Durable (Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development), Gendarmerie Nationale (National Gendarmes), mayors and chiefs of the communes of Itampolo, Maravato, and Nikoly, the community members of Itampolo and Lavavolo, and Turtle Survival Alliance partners and donors.
All photos courtesy of TSA Madagascar
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You can make a difference for these waterlogged tortoises and the people who care for them. Your support will help Turtle Survival Alliance provide critical care, deliver relief to staff and community members, and restore the Lavavolo Tortoise Center. Please consider making a donation today to help us through this crisis. Give a gift that saves lives and rebuilds hope—your help is needed now more than ever.
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About Turtle Survival Alliance
Formed in 2001 and gaining nonprofit status in 2004, Turtle Survival Alliance is a global conservation organization with a mission to protect and restore wild populations of tortoises and freshwater turtles through science-based conservation, global leadership, and local stewardship. Our science-based initiatives are directed by local leaders, inspiring sustainable, community-based stewardship to prevent extinctions. Where populations cannot yet thrive in the wild, our conservation breeding programs preserve opportunities for their future survival. Turtle Survival Alliance operates or supports projects in 17 countries around the world, protecting critical habitats and providing on-the-ground resources to safeguard the most imperiled turtle and tortoise species. Through these efforts, we make a positive impact on well over 100 species of turtles and tortoises. For more information, visit us on our website and join the conversation and learning experience on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
