Scientists predict Madagascar's Critically Endangered Radiated Tortoises will become extinct in the wild within the next 5 years if things continue...
Here is some background info for you.
Populations in 2001 were estimated to be 4 million individuals, sadly, today we believe there are less than 200,000 left. This tortoise, known locally as sokake, is threatened by illicit pet trade, harvesting for international food markets and domestic consumption, and habitat loss.
Saving Madagascar's turtles and tortoises...Look at them...Who wouldn't want to protect and preserve them for the future?
What seems like an easy answer for all of us tortoise-lovers, isn't always the case for some of the people sharing their home with them in Madagascar. The population is soaring at 20 + million with an annual growth rate of 3%. And,
unfortunately, the average income is less than $1 per day. This tough economic situation often times forces local people to depend upon natural resources, including tortoises, to meet basic needs.
Don't worry...something CAN, and IS being done. Conservation Fusion along with Turtle and tortoise experts from the Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) and their Director Rick Hudson have teamed up with researchers in the field like Dr. Ed Louis and the Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership (MBP) and Dr. Christina Castellano from the Orianne Society.
Together we can find innovative, creative solutions to address the specific factors driving the decline of this endangered species.
Education is a key component to conservation. At Conservation Fusion our mission is to engage communities in education about their unique biodiversity to instill knowledge, understanding and ultimately leading to responsible actions for a sustainable future. And to help spread the conservation message.
We are connecting kids living in areas of high biodiversity with youth in the US because we are all connected and we all share one world!
YOU can become a member of TEAM TORTOISE!

Film is a powerful tool to engage many people in education. Torchwerks, a group of amazingly talented film artists have joined Team Tortoise.  We need to get to them to southern Madagascar to film the tortoises...In rural areas where the tortoises are still found, local people have no electricity...many have no shoes and certainly no mirrors.  We are working to create a movie, a visual experience with music to incorporate the cuture of Madagasacar and highlight the benefits of conservation to the local people.  The film will be shown at "movie nights".  It has proven to be a successful way to reach many people.  Check out some of the photos from one of CF's movie nights.  Simply rent a generator and sound system. hang a sheet and you are ready to go!