Great read on WC chams

[paulexp]

I was at work surfing and came across this really good read. Its about how WC chams are brought in and how they are kept while waiting for export. Just for the record I do have 2 WC chams and hope they were not treated like this.
http://www.skypoint.com/members/mikefry/wildcaughthealth.html

 

[jastate09]

It's pretty sad.

 

[Pachytriton]

Simply stop buying WC animals. They are not born to entertain us.

 

[PoshPenny]

I read this a few weeks back, it's heartbreaking.

 

[nightanole]

I wonder if its gotten better in the last decade and a half...

 

[WayneL333]

Eye opening and sad.

 

[Olimpia]

A someone who has purchased a handful of WC chameleons, I can assure you it's not different now. You don't get fresh WC animals with irreparable organ damage, broken bones, and malnutrition for no reason, so I think they're still being exposed to the same conditions still. Which is really, really sad.

That's why we don't ever recommend that new/inexperienced keepers try with WC animals, because they're already in potentially such bad shape that they really need the best chance they can get. And that's unlikely to happen in the hands of someone who doesn't know chameleons in and out. Not that with experience your odds are ever going to be 100% success, not even as a herp vet! But ideally they're better for the animal.

 

[jannb]

Very sad indeed. You might also find the work Dr. Alfonso has done with the WC's interesting.
http://www.ivanalfonso.com/?s=Imports
http://www.ivanalfonso.com/?s=Vitamin+A

 

[PoshPenny]

I found a vet that has the zoo Atlanta herp vet come in one weekend a month and they told me Frita looked good for being a new owner knowing nothing. She isn't a WC but I credit both your blogs ( jannb and Olympias) for making me the owner I am now. I can't imagine caring for one of these imported chams, my pet store Cham stresses me out enough!