Poaching Pets for Profit

The four kinds of tortoises who live on Madagascar are amongst the most rare and beautiful in the world. Click below to learn a few facts about each species.

Don't these tortoises look like they would be beautiful pets? Well, lots of people think so, which is why there is a lot of money to be made in selling them. You might think that a market for tortoises might benefit the Malagasy people. But if you take a closer look and trace the journey of a tortoise from its natural habitat in Madagascar to an internet ad in the US, you'll be surprised at how much it hurts tortoises and tortoise populations, and how little money actually ends up in the hands of the Malagasy people. Track the Tortoise Trade and find out more.