Contributor Post | WeForest - Madagascar Chameleon Habitat Conservation

Nick Henn of Canvas Chameleons

Canvas Chameleon Website

Growing up I've always had a fascination for animals, especially reptiles and amphibians. I raised all kinds of reptiles but the one that has always had my heart is the Chameleon. They have become my passion and I truly enjoy every moment working with them. They are both beautiful and fascinating creatures and I have made it my goal to help others learn about chameleons so they too can sharing in their unique and breath-taking beauty.

All images on this post copyright to Canvas Chameleons

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Madagascar is facing major environmental problems such as deforestation, habitat destruction, agriculture fires, erosion and soil degradation. An effort must be made in order to help reforest Madagascar and prevent the loss of its amazing biodiversity and unique ecosystems. Being home to about half of the world’s 160 or so species of chameleons, Madagascar is one of the most important countries to all chameleon enthusiasts. 

Unfortunately, Madagascar is among the world's poorest countries. As such, the Malagasy people’s survival is dependent upon natural resource use. Most must live off the land that surrounds them, making use of whatever resources they can find. Their poverty costs the country and the world through the loss of the island's endemic biodiversity.

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Visit to Zoo Miami

I visited Zoo Miami recently and took photos of their herp collection while I was there, along with a few of the other zoo residents. I was very impressed with eveyone's enclosures and all the animals looked super healthy. A far cry from the animals at the Paris zoo, some of which were not doing very well! I was also excited to see a few species that I really love, like the Abronias (which were difficult to photograph.) No chameleons, however! Zoo Miami seems to specialize in mostly New World herps. 

It was about 11 am, so most of the mammals were already curled up somewhere sleeping off the heat of the day.

Others were out and about, however. 

But I finally found the herps, most of which are from Central and South America. They had some beautiful dart frogs but I was not able to get a good photo of any of them, unfortunately.

(Amazon Basin Emerald Tree Boas)

(Orinoco Crocodile)

(Eyelash vipers)

(Fer de lance)

(Helmeted iguana female)

(Helmeted iguana male)

(Giant waxy tree frog)

(Discoid roaches)

(Cuban crocodile)

(crocodile monitor)

(Mexican Alligator Lizard / Abronia) 

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