Thousands of critically endangered tortoises in Madagascar have been rescued after they were swept away from their sanctuary and left swimming for their lives in floods. The 12,000 radiated and spider tortoises were housed at the Lavavolo Tortoise Centre after being rescued from wildlife traffickers.
But earlier this month, Cyclone Dikeledi hit the southern part of the Indian Ocean, causing flooding a metre high to engulf the sanctuary, carrying the tortoises away. Sanctuary staff, members of the local community and police officers joined together in a rescue effort.
They waded through the floodwater with large containers, rescuing the tortoises. Some rescuers converted damaged building structures into makeshift rafts for the tortoises to float on. Hery Razafimamonjiraibe, the Madagascar director for the Turtle Survival Alliance, which runs the sanctuary, said they were hopeful they had rescued more than 10,000 of the tortoises - but they still had to do an official count.
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"Fortunately, most of the tortoises were able to float. Tortoises are actually very good swimmers, you should see them," he said. Read more from Sky News:ICC prosecutor calls for arrest of Taliban duoAmanda Knox fails to overturn slander convictionNepal hikes cost of climbing Mt Everest.
