A community in southern Madagascar has pulled together to save thousands of critically endangered tortoises that were swept away from their sanctuary and left swimming for their lives in floods this month caused by a tropical cyclone.

After being devastated by Cyclone Dikeledo, a Southern Madagascar community rallied together to save a species on the brink of extinction.

Sanctuary staff, locals and police officers joined together in the rescue effort, building makeshift rafts for the tortoises to float on.

A community in southern Madagascar has rallied to save thousands of critically endangered tortoises from floods caused by Cyclone Dikeledi. The Lavavolo Tortoise Centre, which houses rescued tortoises,