Posted on March, 13 2018

“I am not for eating, I am not for selling, I am not decorative, I am not for exporting.” Such is the message of the campaign against radiated tortoise trafficking, conceived by USAID, TRAFFIC, and WWF and launched during the month of March. This national campaign also concerns other species that are indigenous to Madagascar: precious woods, lemurs, reptiles, marine life and birds. The objective is to raise public awareness of this widespread problem and to report perpetrators of trafficking to the authorities.
 
Radiated tortoises, which can only be found in the wild in the south of Madagascar, are victims of large-scale poaching to be sold internationally as pets or garden decorations. The NGOs spoke out against the irresponsible use of natural animals and resources during Madagascar’s celebration of the World Day for Life in the Wild. The celebration was held last week at the American Cultural Center in Antananarivo.
 
It was also the moment to award prizes to the winner of the photography contest, “The Natural Beauty of Madagascar,” organized by USAID and the American ambassador to Madagascar. The winners’ photos will be displayed in the American Cultural Center during the month of March.
 
At the same time, the contest “Towards the Discovery of Species,” launched by WWF on its social media in February, has attracted some 34,000 people, with 767 likes and 240 comments. It is essential in order to draw attention to the importance of wild animals as well as the natural riches of Madagascar that must be conserved. The eight winners of the contest received a WWF kit (with copies of Magazine Vintsy, baseball caps, and t-shirts) after being invited to become progressive actors in the protection of their environment. Congratulations!