I haven't had much time to look through this part of the forums but I found this article last night and was absolutely shocked, but sadly not surprised: from my travels I've seen this is the unavoidable norm in Africa. I'm pretty sure that the guys who collect the chameleons get practically nothing for them and the additional resources needed to properly care for these animals would make it unprofitable (plus people with nothing are naturally greedy).
Logically this sort of practice is detestable yet unavoidable given the circumstances and while the demand for them is there. For profit, or just to feed your family, the side effects are the same.
The same way battery chickens are treated to meet the massive demand for eggs, its easy for those involved to become desensitized and detached from the fact that they are working with living creatures.
I realize that there is as much chance of changing these practices as there is of eliminating battery farming so the best thing we can do is make the information well known so others can make informed decisions.
The same way I will never buy battery eggs now that I know the facts, I will never buy a wild caught chameleon having read this article. In both instances there are better alternatives.
Only by lessening the demand will we lessen the amount of animals that have to go through this sort of cruelty. This information is as important as supplementing calcium to a first time buyer! I implore you to put it in a more visible place.
Sadly not surprised by the article.Interesting but hard to read about all the stress and poor treatment of WC chams.
