Where have all the chameleons gone?

Just under 130mm long, Bradypodion caeruleogula lives in trees in small forests in KwaZulu-Natal Photo: Tyrone Ping

Until early 2022, there were 19 described species of chameleons in South Africa. That number has now changed, with three new species described, taking the total to 22. There are two typical chameleons (Chameleo) and 19 dwarf chameleons (Bradypodion) species.

There are very few biomes across South Africa where one cannot find at least a single species of chameleon, whether in coastal forests, grasslands, savannah, montane forests, fynbos, renosterveld or Karoo scrub. And due to the transformation of wild areas and rapid urbanisation, certain species have become well adapted to suburban gardens and well-planted urban areas.

So where have all the chameleons gone and why are we seeing fewer and fewer of these fascinating reptiles?

There is a general trend that biodiversity across the world is rapidly declining due to a variety of factors: land use change, climate change, invasive species, over-exploitation, and pollution.

There is, however, good news. In many areas where suitable habitat is present – both natural habitat and slightly disturbed – chameleons can still be found in great numbers, that is of course if you know how to find them. Chameleons are notoriously difficult to spot during the day. They are the masters of camouflage after all.

Chameleons are often more easily seen at night, while sleeping on the edges of branches and leaves. When chameleons rest at night, the specialised cells in the skin, called chromatophores, become pale and are easily spotted by torchlight against vegetation.

Chameleons are up against a range of challenges: disappearing habitats, busy roadways, domestic pets, and people keeping these amazing wild animals as pets.

Habitat loss and fragmentation

Although not unique to chameleons, vast tracts of suitable habitat are being cleared to build houses, office parks or roadways. Even if a few chameleons survive the land-clearing, their habitat and food source is often lost and the remaining chameleons simply cannot survive. When animals are restricted to a small patch of habitat, once carrying capacity is reached, this forces animals to leave and attempt to find new habitats, usually by means of crossing roads, which leads to road mortalities.

Suburban gardens

Well-maintained suburban gardens with manicured lawns, high concrete walls and topped with electric fences are often inhospitable for chameleons. Large open lawn spaces without corridors of interconnecting vegetation will force chameleons to venture onto the lawns putting them at risk of predation by small mammals, birds, and domestic pets. Chameleons are unable to climb up smooth concrete walls, further restricting their movements. If they do manage to climb these walls, they are often met with electric fences and killed on contact.

Pesticides and insecticides

Chameleon’s prey items – their food – are killed by people using pesticides and insecticides. A sprayed or poisoned insect can also end up killing the chameleon.

Domestic pets

Free roaming cats can destroy a healthy population of chameleons in a suburban garden in a matter of months. Once the local population has been eradicated, these free-roaming cats continue in adjacent greenbelts, causing further destruction to the chameleon populations.

The illegal trade

Although the removal and transportation of wild chameleons are illegal in all provinces in South Africa, the trade is big business, especially in the export market where many wild chameleons are collected under the guise of being captive bred. Taking a chameleon you find crossing the road home to your garden or buying chameleons being sold on the roadside is simply perpetuating the problem by supply and demand. Don’t move chameleons far from where they are found and don’t take chameleons to collectors or sanctuaries as they are seldom released.

What you can do

We can all make a difference to help these animals even by something as small as not totally clearing all-natural vegetation, planting indigenous and by not supporting the illegal wildlife trade.

Create well-vegetated green corridors in your garden where chameleons are able to move around freely without being noticed or forced to move across large open spaces.

Growing indigenous plants and shrubs, which flower naturally in-season, attracts a large diversity of butterflies and other insects which the chameleons need in order to thrive. If your garden is planted correctly, chameleons will eventually make their way into your garden.

Creating a compost heap or an area in the garden where you allow leaves and garden cuttings to naturally break down, brings more insects into the garden.

Planting more indigenous trees, plants and flowers, and clearing alien vegetation, will create healthy green spaces which encourage insects and allow chameleons to naturally thrive.

Tyrone Ping is a herpetologist and published author who travels South Africa documenting and photographing some of the country’s most elusive reptiles. Visit his website.

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