First field mission in Morocco tracking the common chameleon

Between August and September 2025, Fauna Morocco teams conducted the very first mission of the project "Study and conservation of the common chameleon (Chamaeleo chamaeleon) in Morocco", initiated in partnership with the Cameleon Centre Conservation (CCC).


This mission marks the starting point of a project aimed at gaining a better understanding of Moroccan chameleon populations, their habitats and the threats they face, in order to lay the foundations for a long-term conservation plan.

A surprisingly little-known but endangered reptile

Found in many regions of Morocco, the common chameleon remains a little-known reptile.


Initial field observations have revealed several major pressures that are weakening its populations:

• The destruction and fragmentation of natural habitats;

• The collection and resale of live or dead individuals;

• Traditional uses in medicine or witchcraft;

• The effects of drought and unintentional traps (ponds, roads, agricultural structures).

In some souks, chameleons are still sold dried and burned as incense to ward off the "evil eye", or used as supposed remedies for certain diseases.


Others are captured alive and offered for sale as pets, often in precarious and illegal conditions.

An initial database on distribution and uses

After three weeks of exploration, the team documented more than 50 individuals in 12 locations across the country.


The data collected includes:

• 12 chameleons observed in their natural habitat,

• more than a dozen kept in captivity and intended for sale,

• and several individuals found dead, often near retention ponds or roads.

At the same time, around twenty ethnobiological interviews were conducted with local residents and traders to better understand the beliefs, uses and perceptions associated with the species.

Insightful results

The initial results show that:

• half of those interviewed consider the chameleon to be useless or uninteresting because it is considered harmless,

• 40% attribute mystical or medicinal properties to it,

• 60% believe that the species is becoming rarer,

• and drought and habitat degradation are among the most frequently cited threats.

These initial findings confirm the need for a multidisciplinary approach, combining ecology, social sciences and community awareness.

What now?

The next missions, scheduled for December 2025 and spring 2026, will enable us to:

• complete morphological sampling,

• test a genetic sampling protocol,

• and refine our understanding of the regional dynamics of Moroccan populations.

This work will help guide priority conservation actions, whether for the protection of wild populations or the ethical management of individuals seized from the wild.

This project, carried out in partnership with the Paris Zoological Park, Morocco Herpetology, Ibnou Zohr University and La Perle Aux Oiseaux, illustrates the CCC's philosophy: combining science, fieldwork and local stakeholders to build sustainable solutions for chameleons and the communities that share their territory.

The project page