ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 9, 2025--
Wildlife Madagascar proudly announces the second annual International Chameleon Day, celebrated globally on May 9 th. This year, the theme shifts to not only celebrating the beauty and diversity of chameleons but also spotlighting the invisible threats they face—and the innovative, community-based solutions being deployed to protect them.
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Madagascar is home to nearly half of the world’s chameleon species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. Yet these remarkable reptiles—famous for their color-shifting abilities and incredible camouflage—are increasingly difficult to spot in the wild, not only due to their disguises but also because many are disappearing.
In 2025, Wildlife Madagascar launched a bold new chapter in the chameleon conservation program thanks to a grant from the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, supporting the study of two unique species: the Critically Endangered Namoroka leaf chameleon ( Brookesia bonsi ) at its Namoroka field site and the Endangered globe-horned chameleon ( Calumma globifer ) at its La Mananara field site. These efforts aim to close urgent knowledge gaps and guide future protection strategies.
Additionally, with financial support from the Chameleon Academy and Michael Nash, MD, PhD, Wildlife Madagascar created an educational poster designed to be distributed in Malagasy communities where the invasive plant, silverleaf desmodium ( Desmodium uncinatum ), is overtaking native habitats and threatening local reptile populations through entanglement. This poster empowers communities to identify and remove the harmful plant species to support local biodiversity.
"International Chameleon Day is more than a celebration—it's a chance to mobilize action," said Dr. Tim Eppley, Chief Conservation Officer at Wildlife Madagascar. “By linking science, education, and community knowledge, we can address hidden threats like invasive species and empower local solutions that benefit both people and wildlife.”
Also new this year is the launch of a secondary school curriculum, building on last year’s successful K-6 program. Developed by Wildlife Madagascar with the support of the Hervey Family Fund at the San Diego Foundation, the full educational suite—now available in English, French, and Malagasy—includes classroom activities, worksheets, fact sheets, and art-based learning tools that introduce students to chameleon biology, ecology, and conservation.
“In Madagascar, chameleons are part of our natural heritage, but many children grow up without realizing how endangered they are,” said Dr. Jacques Rakotondranary, Project Manager at Wildlife Madagascar’s La Mananara field site. “Our International Chameleon Day activities are opening eyes—not only to the secret lives of these fascinating reptiles but also to the shared responsibility we all have to protect the forest. By educating students and engaging communities, we are planting the seeds of stewardship that will help ensure a future where both people and wildlife thrive.”
Wildlife Madagascar works year-round to build that future by engaging children and local communities in hands-on conservation education. From school visits to reforestation projects, the organization provides opportunities for Malagasy youth to explore nature, discover the incredible wildlife found only on their island, and become part of the solution to safeguarding it. These programs empower the next generation of conservation leaders while addressing the everyday challenges that rural communities face.
From zoos in the E.U. to classrooms in Madagascar, over 50 partners have joined in this global celebration of chameleons, bringing awareness and education to every corner of the world. Joining the chameleon call to action are these partners: IUCN SSC Chameleon Specialist Group, Madagascar’s Ministry of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Madagascar National Parks, Anderson Lab at University of South Dakota, Asity Madagascar, Aspinall Foundation, Association Fanamby, Caméléon Center Conservation, Centre ValBio, Chester Zoo, National Center for Training, Studies and Research in Environment and Forestry in Morondava (CNFEREF), National Center for Environmental Research in Morondava (CNRE), Conservation Fusion, Conservation International, Centre de Recherche en Education Environnementale d’Antananarivo (CREE- ENS), Fondation pour les Aires Protégées et la Biodiversité de Madagascar (FAPBM), Fondation Tany Meva, Frank Glaw of the Bavarian State Collection of Zoology in Munich (SNSB), Full Forests at Montclair State University, Groupe d'Étude et de Recherche sur les Primates de Madagascar (GERP), Impact Madagascar, Institute of Forest Ecology at the Slovak Academy of Sciences, Israel Nature and Parks Authority, Institut Supérieur de Sciences, Environnement & Développement Durable (ISSEDD) at the Université de Toamasina, Lemur Conservation Foundation, Lemur Conservation Network, Madagascar Biodiversity Partnership, Madagascar Fauna and Flora Group (MFG), Madagasikara Voakajy, Malagasy Youth Biodiversity Network, Mention Anthropobiologie et Développement Durable at the Université d’Antananarivo, Mention Foresterie et Environnement de l'Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Agronomiques (ESSA-Forêts) at the Université d’Antananarivo, Mention Sciences Agronomiques & Environnementales at the Université d’Antsiranana, Mention Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale at the Université d’Antananarivo, Mikajy Natiora, Money for Madagascar, ONG Cameleon Madagascar, ONG l'Homme et l'Environnement, ONG Move Up Madagascar, Planet Madagascar, Section of Herpetology at the National Museums of Kenya, SEED Madagascar, TBSE, The Dr. Abigail Ross Foundation for Applied Conservation, The Peregrine Fund, Université de Vakinankaratra, University of Hamburg, Vinako4Madagascar, Vision Madagascar NGO, WCS, World Wide Fund for Nature-Madagascar (WWF), and Zoo Vienna.
This May 9 th, individuals, educators, and conservationists are encouraged to:
For more information about International Chameleon Day, access to the education materials, or to get involved, visit: https://wildlifemadagascar.org/news-and-stories/international-chameleon-day/.
About Wildlife Madagascar
Wildlife Madagascar, a community-based conservation organization, is dedicated to the preservation and protection of Madagascar's unique biodiversity through a multifaceted strategy and collaborative efforts.
The elusive Namoroka leaf chameleon (Brookesia bonsi). This Critically Endangered species, first described in 1980, is found only in a tiny area of Namoroka National Park, spanning less than 39 square miles. Like other wildlife within the national park, the Namoroka leaf chameleon is threatened by habitat loss and degradation due to forest clearing for livestock, slash-and-burn agriculture, and logging.
