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Madagascar Conservation: The Angonoka Tortoise

The Angonoka tortoise is the world’s most endangered tortoise.

Endemic to Madagascar, the Angonoka tortoise (also known as the Ploughshare, Madagascar or Madagascar angulated tortoise) Madagascar Conservation: The Angonoka Tortoiseis found in only a sixty square kilometre area around Baly Bay and is one of the rarest land tortoises in the world. The terrain and plant life in this area is mixed and includes savannah, bamboo scrub, mangrove swamp and deciduous forest. The tortoises prefer the bamboo thickets.

The Angonoka (Astrochelys yniphora) and the Radiated (Astrochelys radiata) tortoise are the only species in the genus.

Angonoka tortoises are smallish land tortoises that reach around 40 centimetres long and have brown, high-domed shells. Males can weigh over 10 kg with females averaging 8.8 kg. The name “Ploughshare” comes from one of the plates (or scutes) of the lower shell projecting out and up between the front legs (resembling a ploughshare) which male tortoises use when fighting in an attempt to flip the other tortoise over. Fighting mostly occurs during breeding season when females bury up to seven clutches of eggs. These hatch during the rainy season and are left to fend for themselves.

ploughshare 1Unfortunately, females only start laying eggs after they reach 15 to 20 years of age, making conservation efforts even more difficult. Fertility rates and hatching success rates mean that only about 4 hatchlings are produced per season per female.

The current population is estimated at 600 individuals and is sadly still decreasing. They are therefore at an extremely high risk of extinction and researchers believe that these tortoises will become extinct in the wild within the next 15 years.

The tortoise’s main predator is the bush pig which was introduced into the area by man. The bush pig eats the tortoise’s eggs and young.

Included in the threats to the tortoise population is their collection for the pet trade (because of their attractive shell colourations) and the popular use of fires to clear grazing land for cattle. Luckily, conservation groups have created firebreaks through controlled fires which have led to the decrease in out of control fires.

Although there has been an increase of enforcement of the restrictions on illegal trade, they have remained in extremely high baby ploughshare - tortoise conservationdemand on the global pet market – a fully grown female tortoise was recently estimated to sell for $60,000 on the Asian black market.

Conservationists have even begun engraving their shells with identifying marks to tarnish their most attractive feature and make them less desirable to poachers and collectors. This is a last-chance effort to try and protect them and is not dissimilar to the cutting of a rhino’s horn to make them less attractive to poachers. Engraving needs to be superficial though, no deeper than the keratin layer of the shell, so that it isn’t painful, but it still causes discomfort due to the trauma of the capture, etc., although it is worth it in the long run if it saves their life.

Conservationists have also developed captive breeding programs and conservation plans that include the community around their habitat. Communities around the tortoise’s habitat have started creating firebreaks and proposed the creation of a park to protect the tortoise and the forests.

Even with all of these improvements, close monitoring of the tortoise population and the global pet trade is still essential. As recently as 2013, smugglers were arrested carrying a single bag containing 54 Angonoka tortoises and 21 Radiated tortoises into Thailand. The 54 Angonoka tortoises could be as much as 10% of the world’s population of the species!

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

6 days ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Look at the goodies we just recieved! As our volunteers and staff know, getting new eqipment, spare parts etc. is a real challenge! Luckily, @lunamoonsailing just arrived from South Africa, with a “boat-load” of spare parts, new aluminium tanks, a new generator and many other things! It feels like Christmas morning!#Madagascarvolunteer #mrci #nosybe #nosykomba #lunamoon ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

1 month ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Thanks all for the funds that we received up until now ❤️ Solly has worked so hard to get where he is and we need your support now to achieving his final dream as a PADI Instructor in his professional diving career! 🎉If you feel like you could support Solly, click on the link below to donate! 🙏🏼🎉https://gofund.me/176e591d#madagascar #madagascarvolunteer #sollysdream #fundraiser #padiinstructor #PADIIDC2023 #PADIIDC2024 #paditv #localmarinebiologist #marineresearch #padiprofessional #futurecareer #gofundme ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute

2 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Look at these cool finds from one of our recent drift dives! Have you ever seen a nudibranch feeding train? #madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

2 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Do you want to join our teaching program? We teach many different classes, at different levels and with many different age groups!In fact our classes are becoming so popular, that we have to double the number of classes per level! Join us via the link in our bio!#madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

2 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
When we’re not exploring the island and surrounding reef, our volunteers prepare presentations to educate their fellow volunteers!Once presented on camp, we head to Be village, to present in a class filled with students who are eager to learn more about their surroundings!#madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

3 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Look at this cool find! We see some cool stuff on our sunrise dives - yesterday we found 28 nudibranchs! Some of them over 14cm! #madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated #oceanconservation #marineconservation ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

3 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Sophie is teaching our local kids class🌞We love to see how the kids are so engaged and motivated to learn.To join our community program, check our link in bio! #madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

3 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Did you know we go on night hikes every week?Lots of creatures are mostly active at night and look at this cool find! #madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

3 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Meet our volunteer of the week Fionn! Along with forest officer Fedy and Donna, staff of the week!Fionn has been a great champion on Forest program and a great friend all around! 🦎#madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #volunteeroftheweek #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute is at Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute.

3 months ago

Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute
Happy independence day! 🇲🇬🇲🇬🇲🇬#madagascarvolunteer #madagascar #volunteer #volunteering #forlocal #saveplanet #saveocean #sustainable #volunteeringisfun #conservation #motivated ... See MoreSee Less

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Contact Us

Madagascar Office: Madagascar Research and Conservation Institute, Home Sakalava, Rue R Tsiomeko, Hell-Ville, Nosy Be, Madagascar
Phone: +261 32 50 891 57
Office Hours: Please take note of the time zone differences when contacting us.
Email: volunteer@madagascarvolunteer.com

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