The Vienna Zoo in Austria will mark the first International Chameleon Day.

The world's oldest zoo partnered with Wildlife Madagascar the first celebration of its kind on May 9.

It aims to honour the fascinating reptiles and promote their conservation efforts.

Staff at Vienna Zoo said an exclusive crafting and information corner will be set up in the ORANG.erie cafe to mark the occasion.

Children will have endless creative opportunities, from decorating chameleon masks to creating chameleon badges. Visitors can expect to learn fascinating facts about chameleons.

Vienna Zoo Director Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck said: 'We recommend visitors also stop by our Mount Kenya Three-Horned Chameleons. After their winter break behind the scenes, they have returned to their terrarium near Giraffe Park. Visitors can observe how chameleons independently move their eyes to keep an eye on their surroundings.'

Globally, there are more than 200 species of chameleons, with one-third of them facing threats. Habitat destruction, climate change, and illegal trade pose significant risks to these creatures.

Chameleons are frequently captured illegally and smuggled to Europe or America, where they are sold unlawfully.

The Vienna Airport's customs regularly intercept smuggled animals, which are then brought to Vienna Zoo for care. All nine chameleon species in the zoo originated from such confiscations.

The zoo director added: 'Under the guidance of curator Anton Weissenbacher, with the dedication and expertise of the caretaking team, we not only nurture these animals back to health but also breed them.

'This allows us to establish reserve populations outside the chameleons' natural habitats, contributing to the survival of these endangered species.'