OBSERVATIONS ON HATCHING AND JUVENILE CAPTIVE-BRED ANGONOKA GEOCHELONE YNIPHORA IN MADAGASCAR

In September 1986 Project Angonoka was established to save from extinc tion the world's rarest land tortoise, the angonoka or ploughshare tor toise Geocheolone yniphora, found only in north-west Madagascar. Capti ve breeding is a major component of the species recovery plan. By earl y 1995, a total of 140 captive-bred juveniles of the species, ranging in age front 10 months to 6 years, survive at the Project's breeding c entre, This is situated at the Malagasy Government's Eaux et Forets st ation of Ampijoroa in Mahajanga Province, Madagascar, approximately 15 0 km from the angonoka's natural habitat. During this period many obse rvations have been recorded of juvenile angonoka hatching, growth, beh aviour, feeding, and seasonal activity. Observations up to October, 19 94 are presented here. Some of the records are single instances, and r equire further study to quantify or verify the original observations.