A suitcase full of smuggled tortoises seized in a raid in Madagascar. Photograph: Courtesy of Alliance Voahary Gasy (AVG)

Most animals found on Madagascar are only found there and that is where the attraction lies. For years, those trying to protect the animals on the island have run into corrupt government officials and weak laws in their attempts to keep the animals safe. When the fine for being caught with a stolen Ploughshare tortoise is only $5, it is easy to take the risk.

For Lewis, what happened next was deeply dispiriting. “The person was arrested, went to court, was found guilty, and given a fine of 15,000 ariary ($5)” said Lewis. “I remember the minister [of the environment] saying ‘This is ridiculous’,” Lewis said. “This is somebody en flagrant délit – caught in the act – and gets a couple of dollars’ fine. Something’s wrong somewhere.”

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In a country where corruption is rife, laws protecting wildlife can be little more than theoretical. All exports of Malagasy rosewood, for instance, have been prohibited since early 2010 – but some of Madagascar’s loggers and exporters also hold seats in parliament. Enforcing the ban is a different matter.

Changes are happening however, with the help of a group of wildlife organizations, people are now seeing real punishment for the damage that is being done to the island's rare endemic species.

Read more about this amazing effort here.

An Aldabran giant tortoise from the Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean, feeding on algae. A new study suggests these giant tortoises might once have been hunted by giant, prehistoric crocodiles. Credit Dennis Hansen/University of Zurich, Switzerland

Today Aldabra Atoll, part of the Seychelles, is predator free, but a recent discovery of a fossilized jaw bone gives some insight to what really preyed on the Aldabra Tortoises.

Dr. Hansen found about 180 fossils near a pond on the atoll. One was a jawbone of an ancient crocodile that he first thought was a tortoise longbone. But when he turned it over he saw it had holes where teeth could fit. He sent some of the fossils to his colleague Torsten Scheyer, a paleontologist also at the University of Zurich, for further examination.

The size of the fossil opens up a whole new chapter to the history of the area.
To read the full article, click here.

Congratulations to the Honoulu Zoo on their new Giant Salamander exhibit!

Two females — Panda and Maru — and one male — Peace — were gifted to the Honolulu Zoo on Feb. 20, 2014 by the Asa Zoo in Hiroshima, Japan to honor what was then the 55th anniversary of the sister city relationship with the City and County of Honolulu. The sister city relationship with Hiroshima was formalized on June 15, 1959.

For the full story, check out the full story here.

Mother, model, author, and reptile fan? Model Tara Moss recently shared a video to instagram with her pet blackhead python Thing on his 13th birthday. Check the video here and give her a little love for being one of us!

You gotta love the aussies! Margot Robbie, star of I, Tonya, shared with the Graham Norton show exactly what life was like growing up in Oz and dealing with the random wandering python here!

Lastly, a little shout out to the people from Rainforest Reptile Shows for getting some nice press for education! Their crew spent a little time educating and overcoming coming fears at the Shrewsbury Library. You can see the photo story here.