Chameleons are dying out

Chameleons or Girgits — a term often used to define politicians — are fast becoming an endangered species in the country. Zeylanicus (Chameleon) is the only lizard family that originally belongs to Pakistan and India. Several years ago, the entire green belt of Thar in Sindh was their natural habitat but now these rare species can only be found in Nagar Parkar, owing to the greenery there.

Recently Dr Theodore, a Professor at the California University, visited the Sindh government-run, Rann of Kutch Wildlife Sanctuary (Nagar Parkar) for the second time and collected some specimens for research purposes. The foreign expert’s visit was arranged jointly by the Zoological Survey Department (ZSD) of Pakistan and the Sindh Wildlife Department (SWD) officials.

Dr Theodore is conducting a research in order to find any similarities between the rare lizard specie population residing in the Indian and Pakistani wildlife sanctuaries. He is expected to come again in July this year for acquiring further information about the specie.

With 70-80 million years of evolution and some of the most grotesque physical characteristics, the chameleon is doubtlessly one of the most intriguing lizards. Like most of its relatives, it dwells exclusively in trees and thickets.

These species are able to change their skin colour, which is an expression of the physical and physiological condition of the lizard. Different chameleon species are able to change colours which include pink, blue, red, orange, green, black, brown and yellow, which is why they are able to blend into their surroundings. However, recent research has indicated that chameleons may also change their colour as a method of communication, including making themselves more attractive to potential mates.

Syed Shamim Fakhri, a field observer of the Zoological Survey Department, said that the chameleon changes colours to protect itself. It prefers to live at the top of a tree. He rejects the notion that it is poisonous and added that it is a friendly animal but can not survive in a different environment. It eats particular insects in the wild. Fakhri also claimed that the chameleon is only present in the Sindh province.

Not only government-run zoos, but also private individuals also keep chameleons as pets. Local people are hunting down or capturing these endangered species which has become a lucrative business, therefore violating many international laws.

More than 160 kinds of chameleon species are at present, arranged in nine genera and are mostly oviparous, and some are ovoviviparous. The oviparous species lay eggs after a 3-6 week gestation period. The female digs a hole in the ground, anywhere from 4-12 inches (10-30cm) deep depending on the species. The female turns herself around at the bottom of the hole and deposits her eggs. Once finished, the female buries the eggs and leaves the nesting site. Clutch sizes vary greatly with species.

Though Pakistan is a signatory of international laws about the export of endangered species and their hunting, still various species have been under threat due to a lack of implementation of certain laws.

Despite the fact that the ZSD and SWD have experts but due to the lack of funds in the relevant departments, they are unable to conduct adequate research.

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