A team of conservationists in Madagascar has discovered a small population of critically endangered Belalanda chameleons in a location where it has never previously been recorded.
First described in 1970, the Belalanda chameleon is one of the world’s rarest reptiles, with one of the most restricted ranges of any animal on the planet – an area measuring approximately four square kilometres – and one of the smallest known distributions of any land vertebrate, which makes it particularly vulnerable.
It’s currently listed among the most critically endangered species worldwide, due to severe habitat loss, as the majority of its natural forest habitat has been destroyed.
Following conversations with local communities as part of efforts to gather data on chameleon species in the area, the team discovered two males and one female Belalanda chameleon at the new location, around five kilometres outside of its usual range in the Belalanda area.
“I was very surprised,” says Hajaniaina Rasoloarison, team leader for the project, which is supported by the Conservation Leadership Programme, a partnership between Fauna & Flora, BirdLife International and the Wildlife Conservation Society.
“Until now, this species was only known from a very restricted area near Belalanda, so discovering them a few kilometres away from their known habitat was completely unexpected. It’s unusual because this species has an extremely limited distribution, and the new site is quite different in terms of vegetation and environment.
"It’s still too early to say whether this ‘migration’ is a result of climate change, but this discovery may suggest the species has a wider distribution than previously thought.”
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The Belalanda chameleon is a small species with coloration ranging from green to green-grey, featuring a whiteish lateral band and a whitish upper lip. While it’s too early to speculate on how many might still survive in the wild, the team hopes to estimate population density by the end of the ongoing project.
Work’s now underway to help locate and protect any remaining individuals, harnessing the local knowledge of surrounding communities, with hopes of bolstering efforts to safeguard its habitat.
“The main threat to these chameleons is habitat destruction, due to agriculture, charcoal production and human encroachment,” explains Rasoloarison. “The discovery of a new population offers a rare opportunity - it gives some hope for its survival.
"This new finding can help strengthen conservation efforts by identifying new areas for protection and possibly involving local communities in habitat management. The main habitat of this species is included in the Ranobe PK32 Protected Area, but this protected area currently lacks a manager to oversee conservation activities, management and community support.”
Main image: Belalanda chameleon. Credit: Hajaniaina Rasoloarison
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