Wild caught chameleons

[redsfandrew]

I am somewhat of a rookie on these forums but can someone explain to me how people end up with wc chams? Are they catching these things or what. Just wondering.

 

[Wykd]

people collect them in madagascar, then an exporter works with an importer who works with ppl interested in importing them. Then they just arrive (j/k tons of paperwork and fees later)

 

[SSimsswiSS]

Animals taken from the wild. Can be 200 caught in a country or island and imported into the states, or taken from a ferral population where their found, like in Florida.

 

[Carlton]

people collect them in madagascar, then an exporter works with an importer who works with ppl interested in importing them. Then they just arrive (j/k tons of paperwork and fees later)

Many countries (not just Madagascar) regard their native chams as a legal trade commodity. Some nations simply permit unlimited wild capture, others have collection quotas. Some restrict specific species, others don't. Some nations try to "farm" them which may only mean they catch wild ones, keep them confined until the gravid females lay their clutches, and then they export any babies produced.

Even if some nations permit legal export, other nations can choose not to accept wildcaught imports. So it varies based on where you live too.