The entire Conservation Allies team is heartbroken by the tragic loss of our colleague and friend, Mahery Rakotobe, who was killed on Monday, August 24, in Madagascar.
Mahery served as Conservation Allies’ Madagascar Conservation Communications Officer in Madagascar, where he brought his country’s spectacular nature, wildlife, and the people working to protect it, to audiences around the world.
Mahery was a talented storyteller with a career that extended well beyond his work with Conservation Allies. A skilled videographer, video editor, producer, and entrepreneur, he worked through his own production studio, RM STUDIO MG, creating visual stories and bringing to life a range of organizations and projects in Madagascar.
Mahery understood the power of visual storytelling. He knew that a photograph or a few minutes of video could help someone thousands of miles away understand why Madagascar’s forests and wildlife matter, and why protecting them is so important. Through his work, he helped give Malagasy conservation a voice and protect his country for future generations.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mahery was a devoted husband and father. He leaves behind his wife and their two-year-old twin sons, who were at the center of his life.
We are deeply grateful for the time we had with Mahery, for everything he gave to conservation, and for the stories he helped bring to the world. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who knew and loved him.
Mahery will be deeply missed, but his work and his stories will continue to inspire us.
