Zoo successfully breeds world’s largest chameleon for the first time in the UK

Conservationists at Chester Zoo have become the first ever in the UK to breed the rare Parson’s chameleon, according to official records.

Parson’s chameleon is the largest chameleon in the world, and is indigenous to Madagascar, where their population has declined by more than 20 percent in the last two decades.

So far, 10 chameleons have hatches from their eggs, with 17 more still in incubation. The first hatchling was just 2 centimetres long and weighed just 1.5 days after 569 days in incubation, the longest incubation period in the world.

Adults grow to be around 70 centimetres and weigh roughly 800 grams.

Team Manager of reptiles at Chester Zoo, Jay Redbond, said: “To be the first UK zoo to successfully hatch a clutch of Parson’s chameleons is a momentous event for the team here – but most importantly it’s a major breakthrough for the species.

“The levels of intricate care and attention to detail provided by team over a number of years to achieve this breeding success has been truly remarkable. We’ve had to carefully replicate the seasonal variations of Madagascar and mimic the exact same conditions these chameleons experience on the island, right here in Chester, and that’s no easy feat.