Chris Anderson
Dr. House of Chameleons
Hi Everyone,
Last year with the help of the chameleon community, and in no small part to the members of Chameleon Forums (https://www.chameleonforums.com/sup...chameleon-specialist-group-fundraiser-109719/), the IUCN/SSC Chameleon Specialist Group (CSG) raised money to assess the extinction risk of the remaining chameleon species for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. These assessments have now been completed (see summary thread here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/iucn-red-list-assessments-chameleons-updated-136412/) and they reveal several species to be at very high risk of extinction. None, however, are at greater risk of extinction than Chapman’s chameleon (Rhampholeon chapmanorum)! Now, we need your help to put chameleon conservation experts on the ground to perform the first survey of this species since 1998, the last time this species was seen in the wild!
During the recent IUCN Red List assessments, GoogleEarth satellite images were used to examine the extent of forest where this species is found. The images show that less than one square kilometre of its original forest habitat remains, and the figure is probably closer to 0.5 km2! This small range makes Chapman’s chameleon one of the most restricted vertebrate species on Earth. It is considered Critically Endangered because there is a high risk of extinction within the next decade due to additional forest loss. The prediction is that if the forest is completely destroyed, the species will become extinct. The small remaining patch may already not be large enough to support a heathy population, but we have no recent information to suggest whether the chameleon is still surviving in this tiny remnant of forest or not. The last time the chameleon was seen in the wild was in 1998, and no further surveys have been undertaken since that time.
A survey of the remaining forest fragment urgently needs to be carried out to determine if a small population still survives. To avoid imminent extinction, strong conservation measures must be put in place as soon as possible. Undoubtedly, the remaining forest must be fully protected and allowed to re-grow.
As a result, the IUCN Chameleon Specialist Group is taking on the responsibility of ensuring that this species receives the attention it deserves so that it does not go extinct. The first step is to conduct a survey of the forest to determine if the species still survives there, and to assess whether the forest is healthy enough to support the population. The CSG will also collaborate with regional experts to engage the Malawian government to assist in carrying out recommendations to protect this species and its remaining habitat.
To meet that end, the CSG has developed a fundraising campaign to build money to support a survey of the remaining forest on the Natundu Hills. This campaign will enable a small team of experts to travel to the Natandu Hills and search for this species in 2015. The CSG will then survey the remaining habitat to assess the condition of the remaining population and whether the forest is healthy enough to support it. The team will then survey nearby healthy forests to determine whether any of these areas may be suitable for relocation of chameleons from the Natandu Hills.
Please visit this page and consider donating to this cause:
Chapman’s Chameleon: Conserving the World's Most Range Restricted Chameleon
Thank you all for your help on this project!
Chris
Last year with the help of the chameleon community, and in no small part to the members of Chameleon Forums (https://www.chameleonforums.com/sup...chameleon-specialist-group-fundraiser-109719/), the IUCN/SSC Chameleon Specialist Group (CSG) raised money to assess the extinction risk of the remaining chameleon species for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. These assessments have now been completed (see summary thread here: https://www.chameleonforums.com/iucn-red-list-assessments-chameleons-updated-136412/) and they reveal several species to be at very high risk of extinction. None, however, are at greater risk of extinction than Chapman’s chameleon (Rhampholeon chapmanorum)! Now, we need your help to put chameleon conservation experts on the ground to perform the first survey of this species since 1998, the last time this species was seen in the wild!
During the recent IUCN Red List assessments, GoogleEarth satellite images were used to examine the extent of forest where this species is found. The images show that less than one square kilometre of its original forest habitat remains, and the figure is probably closer to 0.5 km2! This small range makes Chapman’s chameleon one of the most restricted vertebrate species on Earth. It is considered Critically Endangered because there is a high risk of extinction within the next decade due to additional forest loss. The prediction is that if the forest is completely destroyed, the species will become extinct. The small remaining patch may already not be large enough to support a heathy population, but we have no recent information to suggest whether the chameleon is still surviving in this tiny remnant of forest or not. The last time the chameleon was seen in the wild was in 1998, and no further surveys have been undertaken since that time.
A survey of the remaining forest fragment urgently needs to be carried out to determine if a small population still survives. To avoid imminent extinction, strong conservation measures must be put in place as soon as possible. Undoubtedly, the remaining forest must be fully protected and allowed to re-grow.
As a result, the IUCN Chameleon Specialist Group is taking on the responsibility of ensuring that this species receives the attention it deserves so that it does not go extinct. The first step is to conduct a survey of the forest to determine if the species still survives there, and to assess whether the forest is healthy enough to support the population. The CSG will also collaborate with regional experts to engage the Malawian government to assist in carrying out recommendations to protect this species and its remaining habitat.
To meet that end, the CSG has developed a fundraising campaign to build money to support a survey of the remaining forest on the Natundu Hills. This campaign will enable a small team of experts to travel to the Natandu Hills and search for this species in 2015. The CSG will then survey the remaining habitat to assess the condition of the remaining population and whether the forest is healthy enough to support it. The team will then survey nearby healthy forests to determine whether any of these areas may be suitable for relocation of chameleons from the Natandu Hills.
Please visit this page and consider donating to this cause:
Chapman’s Chameleon: Conserving the World's Most Range Restricted Chameleon
Thank you all for your help on this project!
Chris
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