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.

A community grouped together to save the reptiles after Cyclone Dikeledi struck the southern part of the island earlier this month.

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

The community near the Lavavolo Tortoise Center in southern Madagascar pulled together to help the creatures who were left terrified after a cyclone hit the region.