Madagascan tortoise on verge of extinction
Unless the government of Madagascar takes swift action to enforce international anti-poaching and anti-trafficking laws, the country’s largest tortoise – the ploughshare tortoise (or angonoka tortoise) – will likely go extinct in the wild within the next two years, warns a coalition of NGOs working on tortoise conservation.
Ploughshare tortoises live only in the Baly Bay National Park in north-western Madagascar, a park established in 1997 specifically to protect the species in its natural habitat.
Poachers target the animal to export to international collectors as a highly coveted pet with its striking gold and black shell.
Conservationists estimate there may be less than 100 mature adults left in the reserve.
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