Part 5/9:
The narrator witnesses a new aspect of survival in Madagascar: children collecting chameleons in exchange for money. Their traditional method involves coaxing the creatures from branches, but this practice highlights a grim reality. Despite the ethical dilemma surrounding the collection, many children engage eagerly in this pursuit, often motivated by the potential for a small monetary gain.
Chameleons, while not endangered, contribute to a growing trade that sees approximately 8,000 to 50,000 individuals exported annually. The chilling fact remains that only 1% of these creatures survive in captivity for more than a year, revealing the precarious fate of many taken from their natural habitats.