First health assessment of the world's largest chameleon!

Our team is launching a unique study on the microbiota of Calumma parsonii, between the rainforest and zoos.

In the Vohimana reserve in Madagascar, our team has just taken a major step forward in the conservation of Calumma parsonii, the world's largest chameleon. During five weeks of intensive fieldwork, our veterinary manager Benjamin Drouet led a unique mission focusing on the health of chameleons and the collection of faecal samples to analyse their intestinal microbiota in the natural environment - a first for this species!

More than 30 individuals were examined: body condition, skin lesions, parasitism, eating habits and habitat type. Initial observations reveal a high prevalence of health problems, probably related to the increasing degradation of their natural environment.

The good news is that the sampling protocol has been successfully validated

and laboratory analyses are now underway. These analyses will provide a better understanding of the microbial balance, parasites and food sources of these emblematic chameleons.

And this is just the beginning: this approach will soon be extended to Parson's chameleons kept in zoos, in order to compare the microbiotas of wild and captive animals. This comparative approach will open up new perspectives for a better understanding of their needs and improve their care, both in the wild and in captivity.

Thanks to our donors, it is thanks to you that we can go so far: LE PAL NATURE Foundation / Siegean African Reserve /  MUZOO

Presentation of the project

#Conservation #Chameleons #CalummaParsonii #Microbiota #Biodiversity #Madagascar #Herpetology #MissionTerrain #ZooScience #WildlifeHealth #ScienceForConservation #CaméléonCenter