Pet trade relies on ‘disposable’ wild chameleons from Madagascar
by Chris Scarffe on 20 January 2021
Despite being difficult to keep alive and healthy, chameleons are among the most popular reptiles in the exotic pet trade.
Each year hundreds of thousands of these slow-moving reptiles are taken from the wild, both legally and illegally, many of them from threatened species living in the forests of Madagascar.
Observers say the international trade in chameleons must be changed to avoid harming wild populations and improve the well-being of animals during transit and captivity.
They also point to the need to make the trade fairer and more transparent, so local people can benefit from it.