Madagascar's four endemic tortoise species are categorized as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List (IUCN, 2015), and three are primarily threatened by illegal and unsustainable levels of collection for the international pet trade and to meet the demand for domestic bushmeat (Jenkins et al., Reference Jenkins, Tognelli, Bowles, Cox, Brown and Chan2014). The ongoing seizure of radiated tortoises Astrochelys radiata at transport hubs is evidence of continued international demand for this species, failure of enforcement (Todd, Reference Todd2011; Chng, Reference Chng2014), and a breakdown of the traditional taboo that was once thought to protect the species in many parts of its range (Juvik, Reference Juvik1975). The domestic demand for illegal meat from A. radiata in parts of southern Madagascar fuels a large proportion of the ongoing illegal harvest, sale and consumption of this tortoise and continues to present a major challenge to the Malagasy authorities, local communities and conservation organizations (O'Brien et al., Reference O'Brien, Emahalala, Beard, Rakotondrainy, Reid, Raharisoa and Coulson2003; Castellano et al., Reference Castellano, Doody, Rakotodrainy, Ronto, Rakotodriamanga, Duchene and Randria2013). The species, which is restricted to the spiny dry forests of south-western Madagascar between Morombe and Amboasary, reportedly underwent a 47% population decline within just 2 years, as well as a major range contraction (Rafeliarisoa et al., Reference Rafeliarisoa, Walker, Louis, Castellano, Rhodin, Ogle, Mittermeier, Randriamahazo, Hudson and Lewis2012; Walker & Rafeliarisoa, Reference Walker and Rafeliarisoa2012).

Published information on the supply chain of A. radiata is fragmented, with many gaps and a general lack of quantitative data. Hunting and trade of protected species in Madagascar is normally a clandestine affair, making it particularly difficult for conservation scientists to obtain reliable, quantitative information on the nature and scope of activities (Razafimanahaka et al., Reference Razafimanahaka, Jenkins, Andriafidison, Randrianandrianina, Rakotomboavonjy, Keane and Jones2012). However, information across the supply chain, from collection sites, through transit localities to consumers, is needed to inform enforcement and conservation activities.

We report here on monitoring of discarded A. radiata carapaces in the urban centre of Toliara, south-western Madagascar. Previous studies have reported that live tortoises and tortoise meat are collected to meet the demand from restaurants in Toliara and Tolagnaro (Fort Dauphin) and that the meat is considered a delicacy and consumed during public holidays and special occasions, such as Christmas (Castellano et al., Reference Castellano, Doody, Rakotodrainy, Ronto, Rakotodriamanga, Duchene and Randria2013). During June 2010–January 2014 we conducted covert visits to a number of fokontany (wards) with open-air rubbish dumps in public spaces in Toliara where tortoise carapaces had reportedly been discarded. These sites were selected based on informal discussions and observations made in 2010. All observations were conducted during daylight hours by the same individual (TM), who counted the number of new carapaces of A. radiata during each visit. Visits varied in duration and were typically quick when carapace abundance was low, but took much longer, often requiring observation from a number of vantage points, when carapace abundance was relatively high.

Rubbish dumps in six fokontany (Mahavatse I East, Mahavatse I West, Mahavatse I Tanambao, Mahavatse II, Ambohitsabo, and Tanambao Motombato) were visited throughout the study, and three additional fokontany (Anketraka, Toliara Centre and Ankiembe) were visited in 2013 only (Fig. 1). Each dump was visited at least once per month unless water levels were too high, with multiple visits to some sites. Additional visits were needed for a variety of reasons but mainly to maintain secrecy during counts of large carapace dumps. It was possible to distinguish new carapaces because they were fresh in appearance and free of dust and grime. Every effort was made to conduct the observations covertly prior to February 2013. Thereafter, following a change in project rationale and objectives, carapaces were measured on-site in full view of the public (these data will be published elsewhere). The specific objectives of our study were to obtain quantitative minimum counts of the number of tortoises killed in Toliara for bushmeat and to determine whether peaks in tortoise consumption coincided with major public or religious holidays.

Fig. 1

The study site in Toliara City, Madagascar.

A total of 1,913 carapaces were observed during 216 days of monitoring. Cyclonic activity caused high water levels, which resulted in incomplete data collection during some months. Nevertheless, it appears that the number of discarded tortoise carapaces was higher in 2012 than in the other years of the study (Fig. 1). It also appears that relatively fewer tortoise carapaces were discarded in the austral winter months (June–September), whereas large numbers were discarded in the austral summer (October–February). Peak carapace counts in 2010 and 2011 were in May and November–December. In 2012 the peak carapace count was in May, followed by another peak in October and November. Few tortoise carapaces were observed in 2013, following the peak during January 2013. There is therefore some evidence of peaks in carapace dumping during May–June and October–December. A single rubbish dump at Mahavatse, an area near the artisanal fishery landing beaches, accounted for 93% of the observed carapaces. Low numbers of carapaces were observed at Anketraka, located to the east of the landing beaches, and there were few observations of carapaces at the two other sites included in 2013.

Estimates of the number of radiated tortoises harvested annually vary from c. 45,000 (O'Brien et al., Reference O'Brien, Emahalala, Beard, Rakotondrainy, Reid, Raharisoa and Coulson2003) to 518,000 (Walker & Rafeliarisoa, Reference Walker and Rafeliarisoa2012). Although the numbers of carapaces observed in this study represent a relatively small proportion of the estimated annual harvest, the data provide important pointers for future enforcement and conservation efforts in the urban centre of Toliara. The observations support the hypothesis that the delivery of tortoises to Toliara is seasonal, but provide weaker support for linking this to particular events, such as Christmas and public holidays. The rubbish dumps are low-lying and were inundated with floodwater following cyclones during each year of the study, which obscured some of the underlying temporal variation that might have otherwise been more evident. Nevertheless, it is clear that even accounting for interannual variation in supply there are two peaks in any given year that may be related to Independence Day in June and Christmas in December. Seasonal tortoise activity may also significantly influence collection effort and success and contribute to higher consumption during the austral summer, when the species is most active and hence supplies of tortoise meat are greater. Regardless of the reason for these seasonal peaks it would be sensible to focus enforcement and conservation activities in the areas near the artisanal fishery landing beaches where carapace dumping was consistently highest, and during the months of May–June and October–December. This should be accompanied by similar activities at the supply end, in the areas from where the tortoises are collected and transported. The decline in the number of observed carapaces in 2013 was probably because the monitoring team became too visible and thus tortoise butchers took more care in disposing of carapaces. It seems that burial became the preferred option (T. Manjoazy, pers. obs.). Mahavatse remained the main arrival point for tortoise-laden pirogues at night.

Fig. 2

Number of discarded carapaces of radiated tortoises Astrochelys radiata recorded at rubbish dumps in the urban centre of Toliara, Madagascar, during June 2010–January 2014. Ten dumps were monitored during June 2010–December 2012. Another five were included in the study in January 2013. *No survey due to high flood water

A range of activities are needed across the supply chain to combat the illegal harvest of radiated tortoises, including enforcement, demand reduction and community involvement (Hudson, Reference Hudson, Castellano, Rhodin, Ogle, Mittermeier, Randriamahazo, Hudson and Lewis2013). As A. radiata is a fully protected species under Malagasy wildlife legislation there are currently no options for sustainable, legal and consumptive use (Ganzhorn et al., Reference Ganzhorn, Manjoazy, Paplow, Randrianavelona, Razafimanahaka and Ronto2015). Efforts should therefore focus on the protection of wild tortoises through community engagement, awareness raising, and enforcement. These should take place across the supply chain, including communities in the Mahafaly Plateau, people involved in transporting tortoises by sea and land, and human population centres where demand is high. As there is increasing evidence that the demand for tortoise bushmeat extends as far as the capital city, Antananarivo, it is imperative that enforcement activities in urban centres of demand and along major transport routes are intensified and respond to any changes in the behaviour of the tortoise transporters, butchers and purveyors. The results of this study were presented to stakeholders, including local authorities, during a workshop on 12 December 2013. Following this workshop there was a notable increase in reports of tortoise consignments to the local authorities.