Rescue Efforts
Following , thousands of endangered tortoises were swept away from the Lavavolo Tortoise Center in southern , prompting a massive community-led rescue operation.
Rescuers, including sanctuary staff, local residents, and police, recovered over 10,000 tortoises, using makeshift rafts and containers to navigate the floodwaters.
Impact and Recovery
The sanctuary suffered significant infrastructural damage, losing much of its facility but remains hopeful for the tortoises' return. Approximately 700 tortoises were found dead, trapped by debris.
The Lavavolo Tortoise Center, crucial for housing tortoises confiscated from traffickers, faces challenges in counting and caring for the rescued tortoises, highlighting the species' swimming ability and resilience.