Angonoka Tortoise (Geochelone yniphora)

Tortuga de Madagascar en Español: This page is also available in Spanish.

The Angonoka or Ploughshare tortoise is one of the ten most endangered animals in the world. There are fewer than 1000 individuals left, and they are found only in one tiny area of the island nation of Madagascar. The Angonoka's favorite habitat is the coarse grass and scrub trees found near bamboo forests. The Angonoka is found only in the dry forests of the northwestern part of Madagascar.

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What's in a name?

Angonoka is the Malagasy name for the tortoise that Europeans named the Ploughshare tortoise. It was called the Ploughshare tortoise because part of the lower shell (plastron) sticks out between the front legs like a plow. This structure, under the tortoise's neck, is used by mature males when they fight for mating rights. The males must battle each other before they are even interested in mating. The "plow" is used as a lever to flip over the opponent, and only after a victory will a male look for a female.

Life Cycle

When Angonoka hatch, they are about the size of a ping-pong ball. They are completely independent when they emerge from their nest in the earth. At about 20 years of age, the tortoises begin to mate and reproduced. A female Angonoka will lay up to seven clutches of two to six eggs each breeding season.

Threats

Like many endangered animals, habitat loss is the primary threat to the Angonoka. Their forest is being lost because of fire. Malagasy farmers set fires to promote the growth of grasses on which their cattle like to graze, and to clear land for growing rice and manioc. These fires create a new habitat of palm savannah. Unfortunately, the palm savannah creates little shade and is too hot for the Angonoka. Predation of baby Angonoka and eggs by bush pigs is another problem. The pigs were introduced from Africa and have no natural predators on Madagascar. It is also taboo (forbidden) to eat pig in Madagascar, so the pigs' population grows unbalanced. Finally, illegal pet trade has had a toll on the numbers of wild Angonoka.

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Conservation

In 1993 the population of Angonoka was estimated to be between 100 and 400. To save these unique tortoises, Projet Angonoka was established in 1986 by the Malagasy Department of Waters and Forests and the Wildlife Preservation Trust. Projet Angonoka includes research, captive breeding, and the participation of the local communities. The project has been a very successful, and more than 150 baby tortoises have been born at the breeding center. The adult tortoises used in the breeding program were illegal pets that were confiscated by the government. Eventually, some of the captive born tortoises will be returned to the wild.

hatchling The people of Madagascar have seen changes in their environment. They are concerned that their forests are disappearing and that there are fewer fish in the lakes. Because their survival depends on these natural resources, they are eager to help preserve their environment. To help reduce the loss of resources from forest fires, the Malagasy people now consider everyone to be responsible for helping to put out fires. People that do not help with the fires are fined.

Culture

The Malagasy have many taboo or fady as they call them. One fady says that it is bad luck to eat the Angonoka. Even though they are not eaten, Angonoka are taken from the wild by the Malagasy. This is because another fady says that keeping an Angonoka with your chickens will keep them healthy.

Nearly every Malagasy can describe an Angonoka in great detail, even if they have never seen one before. The tortoise is part of folk tales and the Malagasy culture. The people are proud of their tortoise that is found now where else in the world. The Angonoka has helped the Malagasy people rally around environmental problems in one of the poorest countries in the world.