Petition · past parliament · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Require Licenses to Keep Chameleons
Closed
326 signatures
What the petition asks
We wish for the government to regulate chameleons by requiring all owners to obtain a license, like some other exotic animals in the UK do. At the moment, anyone can walk into a pet store and buy one, but studies show that 3 in 10 chameleons will die within their first year of being brought home.
This is because chameleons are one of the more difficult reptiles to keep in captivity, as even a small mistake in their care can result in them being very ill or die. This is concerning because in the wild 36% of species are threatened with extinction, with the main reason being habitat loss, followed by poaching for the global pet trade. We feel introducing licenses will reduce impulse buyers, reduce chameleons dying prematurely in captivity, and decrease the illegal trade of wild chameleons.
Timeline
| 16 Dec 2020 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 16 Jun 2021 | Closed to new signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
326
Status
Closed
Department
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Opened
16 Dec 2020
Closed
16 Jun 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.