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Published Wednesday, February 10, 2021
U.S. donates $150,000 to protect
Madagascar's endangered tortoises
By the A.M. Costa Rica wire services
The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, is providing $150,000 to support the Turtle Survival Alliance organization which protects tortoises in Madagascar, according to the U.S. Department of State’s site Share America.
The organization cares for 24,000 tortoises seized from wildlife traffickers in Madagascar, including four endangered species. With proper care, the tortoises’ survival rate is 95 percent.
The covid-19 pandemic impacted the nonprofit organization by increasing their tortoise ecapacity as a result of closures of zoos and aquariums that normally support the group, the report said.
The funding shortfall would have forced the organization to prematurely release thousands of critically endangered tortoises into the wild.
“The Turtle Survival Alliance provides a vital service to the protection of Madagascar’s endemic tortoises,” John Dunlop USAID Mission Director said. “With this grant, we are supporting the Turtle Survival Alliance to collect tortoises recovered from wildlife traffickers, bring them to rehabilitation centers, restore them to health, prepare them for reintroduction to the wild, and ultimately release them at carefully selected secure locations.”
The grant is part of the U.S. government’s broader efforts to stop wildlife trafficking and the illegal trade of natural resources. USAID fights wildlife trafficking in Madagascar through two projects valued at a total of $45 million.
The USAID Hay Tao project works with the Madagascar government and others to strengthen environmental policies, including rules against trafficking.
The USAID Mikajy project helps local communities in western and northeastern Madagascar better manage natural resources and address wildlife trafficking and illegal logging.
Conservationists rescued more than 10,000 tortoises in 2018 after authorities raided a house in southern Madagascar. Poachers planned to sell the critically endangered animals to illegal food and pet traders in Asia, according to the Turtle Survival Alliance.
Madagascar’s unique tortoise species are a major draw for the country’s ecotourism sector, which is critical to the country’s economy. The alliance trains residents in conservation, including how to cultivate food for the tortoises.
“We have what we consider a sacred obligation to care for these animals and have invested too much in their rescue and rehabilitation to release them without proper planning and acclimation,” Herilala Randriamahazo, TSA Madagascar’s national coordinator said. “This new partnership allows TSA to continue to honor its commitment to conserving Madagascar’s unique natural resources.”
The U.S. government supports the protection of Malagasy natural resources from exploitation through USAID-funded activities. Since 2013, USAID has committed $53 million toward programs that combat wildlife and precious hardwood trafficking, strengthen natural resource governance, improve forest and marine area management, and increase economic opportunities for people living near protected areas. In 2019, USAID provided $114 million in aid to Madagascar, including $62 million for health care and $40 million for food security.
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What other animal protection foundations should the United States donate funds to? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com
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