Three veterinary students join the Pinocchio Mission in Vohimana
- Mar 15
- 2 min read
This month, the Caméléon Center Conservation is hosting three students from the Toulouse National Veterinary School – Lila Chopin, Charlotte Soto and Gabriel Salvy – for an internship focused on one of our most innovative projects: the Pinocchio Mission.
This work forms part of the research programme dedicated to the Calumma pinocchio chameleon, a recently described species endemic to the Vohimana rainforest in Madagascar. Due to its extremely limited range and growing pressures on the forests of eastern Madagascar, this species is now a major focus of research and conservation efforts.
Developing a new approach to behavioural research
The aim of the placement is to assess the feasibility of a semi-free-range behavioural research system, integrated directly into the forest ecosystem of the Vohimana Reserve.
The students will be tasked with identifying the ecological, technical and methodological conditions required for the future establishment of semi-free-range forest enclosures. Their work will help define the prerequisites, constraints and recommendations for studying certain aspects of the species’ biology that are still poorly understood, notably its reproductive cycle, social behaviour and use of space.
This approach aims to reconcile scientific rigour, ecological realism and respect for animal welfare, by prioritising non-invasive observation methods and passive monitoring systems.
A project based on several years of research
This exploratory study builds on three years of work carried out by the CCC in the Vohimana Reserve. Since 2022, ecological inventories and monitoring of the reserve’s chameleons have provided a better understanding of the presence and distribution of Calumma pinocchio.
Thanks to this data, future experimental setups can be established directly in areas where the species occurs naturally, thereby avoiding any displacement of the animals from their natural habitat and ensuring that observations are carried out under ecologically realistic conditions.
The contribution of veterinary expertise
The involvement of veterinary students brings valuable expertise to this preparatory work. Their training helps, in particular, to incorporate considerations of animal welfare, reptile physiology and the ethics of behavioural research into the design of future study protocols.
The placement is supervised by the CCC’s scientific team, with support from local partners at the Vohimana Reserve and the NGO L’Homme et L’Environnement.
An important step for the Pinocchio Mission
This study represents a key step in the development of the Pinocchio Mission. The recommendations arising from this work will help prepare for the future implementation of experimental setups designed to better understand the ecology and biology of this recently discovered species.
Ultimately, this knowledge will help guide conservation strategies for the Pinocchio chameleon and its forest habitat within the Vohimana Reserve.
Photos: Michaël RAMALANJAONA
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