Chameleon cruelty

A sad story...but people need to know how smaller creatures are being slaughtered, not just the rhinos.

This Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis), was found in a rural community. It had been severely beaten with a stick by a group of kids. It turned out to be a gravid (pregnant) female, which died shortly after being found. Fifty-two healthy looking eggs were cut out of the body, a sad loss to the chameleon population in that area. Many people fear chameleons, because of... cultural beliefs, which means that they are often killed. This down to a lack of education. They are completely harmless, and amazing animals, keeping the insect population in check. They are common throughout the Greater Zululand area, and are often seen at night perched on the ends of branches, fast asleep. All though not endangered, their habitat is often destroyed throughout their distribution. They are also caught and/or sold as pets. These animals do not do well in captivity and should be left in the wild.

We are aiming to educate as many people as we can about these wonderful reptiles, to give people a better understanding of them, and to prevent them from being needlessly killed.