In May 2025, an award-winning team of researchers in south-west Madagascar located three individuals of the critically endangered Belalanda chameleon. Found in an unusual location – 5 kilometres outside of their known habitat – the team initially spotted two males and one female. A few weeks later, a fourth specimen was noted.

The team welcomed this discovery with surprise as the species is known to be found in only one location near the village of Belalanda and has one of the smallest habitat ranges of all land vertebrates – just 4 square kilometres.

Moreover, this chameleon (Furcifer belalandaensis) is one of the rarest reptiles on Earth. Discovered only in 1970, the species was last observed in its native habitat in November 2024.

Even though males can reach up to 22 centimetres in length, the species remains difficult to spot due to a combination of its canopy-dwelling behaviour, highly degraded habitat, and sheer rarity. Despite its distinctive colours ranging from green to grey, its white lateral stripe, and a whitish upper lip, there is still a critical lack of data about this species.

The sighting of four individuals is, therefore, a rare moment of hope for conservationists, notably because of the differences between that new site and the species’ known habitat.

The original habitat of the Belalanda chameleon is characterised by “a small, heavily altered area within a village,” explains Hajaniaina Rasoloarison, lead researcher of this project.

This area also includes scattered and isolated spiny forest residues, which have been greatly degraded by deforestation, agriculture, urbanisation, wildfires, and mining projects, according to Fauna & Flora, which supports this fieldwork.

The remnant trees in this location are now a composite of mainly non-indigenous species and a few remaining native ones, which provide shelter for the Belalanda chameleon.

“The newly discovered population was found in a semi-degraded forest patch. The new site retains more native vegetation and offers a slightly more continuous canopy, providing better shelter and food sources,” announces Rasoloarison.

Moreover, according to him, these individuals were found adjacent to human settlements, which “suggests [that] the species may be able to persist in more varied conditions than previously thought.”

Rasoloarison explained in a Discover Wildlife article that it was still too early to state if this migration is due to climate change, but this finding gives hope regarding the distribution and adaptability of the species.

Yet, the species remains in jeopardy. In the original habitat, “The main threats include habitat destruction due to agriculture, charcoal production [used as a source of energy by local communities], and urban expansion,” Rasoloarison says, “Which may explain the extremely limited distribution” of the species.  

The threats to the Belalanda chameleon have been further exacerbated by the resumption of the Base Toliara project in 2024 – a controversial sand mining operation located right next to the PK32-Ranobe protected area, where the species was found.

The project involves environmental concerns through the extraction of minerals, the destruction of natural vegetation, including native trees, and the construction of a nearby road, all of which could affect local wildlife.

Together, these threats bring the Belalanda chameleon dangerously close to extinction.

But for the first time in years, this discovery offers a real chance to study and protect this enigmatic reptile. Rasoloarison’s team has, therefore, decided to reconsider the focus of their research.

“While our initial studies targeted broader biodiversity and habitat dynamics, we now plan to dedicate more attention to the Belalanda chameleon. Its critical conservation status and our unique opportunity to contribute to its protection make it a priority for our future work,” he announces.

“The next steps involve conducting more extensive field surveys to determine the full extent of the population and its habitat, with some master students from the University of Mahajanga,” says Rasoloarison.

Currently, there is no estimate of the total population size, but it is likely still on the decline, according to the IUCN Red List, which classified this species as Critically Endangered in 2011.

The team hopes to provide a population assessment by the end of the fieldwork, according to Fauna & Flora. Rasoloarison adds, “We also aim to initiate ecological studies on the species’ habitat requirements, reproductive biology, population dynamics, and probably ex-situ conservation.”

 As well as providing grounds for ecological study, this finding offers opportunities in the conservation field. For example, the newly discovered location, due to its proximity to human settlements, “Highlights the urgent need to consider non-forest, human-influenced landscapes in our conservation strategies,” explains Rasoloarison.

The short distance to the urbanised zone demands a social approach. Rasoloarison outlines, “It will require integrating conservation efforts into areas where people live and work, and raising awareness among local communities about the ecological value of the species.”  

This breakthrough, in addition to being a starting point for the safeguarding of the Belalanda chameleon, is also a reminder of “the importance of continued fieldwork and local engagement in conservation. Often, small and overlooked areas can harbour species of high conservation value. Our discovery is a reminder that even tiny forest patches deserve attention,” ends Rasoloarison.