Cape dwarf chameleons, which are frequently spotted in Stellenbosch, are well-suited to survival in urban spaces but it is important to follow chameleon-friendly practices.
This is according to Martine Jordaan, CapeNature fauna ecologist.
Species such as the Cape dwarf chameleon are well-suited for surviving in urban areas, explained Martine Jordaan, CapeNature fauna ecologist. However, it is important to have a chameleon-friendly garden, she added. “This includes having relatively dense vegetation for the animals to hide in and making sure they cannot get access to electric fences which will kill them.” This chameleon was spotted near the Old Main Building at Stellenbosch University. VIDEO: Bianke Neethling
Meet the locals
According to iNaturalist, a site that encourages its users to report sightings of flora and fauna to be mapped, the Cape dwarf chameleon has been sighted and logged in the Stellenbosch area approximately 248 times in the last five years. There are a total of 3 962 sightings logged and mapped on iNaturalist from the same period in the Western Cape.
The Cape dwarf chameleon is endemic to the south western corner of South Africa, said Dr Chad Keates, a post-doctoral fellow in herpetology with the Port Elizabeth Museum and Nelson Mandela University.
Their primary food sources are invertebrates such as flies, beetles, grasshoppers and spiders, explained Prof Krystal Tolley, a scientist for the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) and an expert on chameleons.
“They are an integral component of intact food webs,” said Keates. They reduce the overall densities of insects and act as a source of food for animals higher in the food chain, he explained. “They are particularly good at keeping annoying muggies at bay.”
Human-mediated habitat loss, bush clearing, poaching for the illegal pets trade and pets are amongst the threats that chameleons face, said Keates. “Domestic cats are one of the biggest dangers to most wildlife on planet earth. They are very bad for chameleons all over the country,” explained Keates.
Cats pose a significant threat to chameleons, explained Martine Jordaan, CapeNature fauna ecologist. “These urban predators indiscriminately hunt small prey and this can have devastating effects on some prey populations,” she said. PHOTO: Téa Bell
What to do when you see a chameleon
Stellenbosch boasts many green spaces within the town and, as a result, wildlife and residents cohabitate the area. Experts agree that the animals should not be interfered with.
“It is best to leave them alone if they are in a green belt or garden. They will make their way through it to whatever habitat they are looking for,” said Tolley.
“It is always best to reduce contact with wildlife, as it stresses them out astronomically,” said Keates. “They do move of their own accord, albeit lazily at times.”
However, “chameleons are very vulnerable when walking on the ground and are safest when in dense vegetation”, explained Jordaan. If the animal is at risk of being harmed by a car, person or pet, “move it in the direction it was travelling, to the closest appropriate tree”, recommended Keates.
“Habitat loss is the biggest threat to chameleons. Most species require a very specific type of habitat and cannot live in other habitats,” said Prof Krystal Tolley, a scientist for the South African National Biodiversity Institute and expert on chameleons. GRAPHICS: Jamie Venter
Chameleons are not pets
It is “100% illegal” to keep chameleons as pets, explained Keates. “If you get caught doing it, you can get in quite a bit of trouble.”
Without expert care, chameleons deteriorate rapidly and will eventually die, he added.
“Keeping a wild animal as a pet is not good for the animal. They are simply ‘not happy’ in captivity,” explained Tolley.
They deserve to exist longer
“Every species is important and the more species we remove from the ecosystem, the faster the ecosystem will collapse,” explained Tolley. It is like a brick wall, she explains, removing one brick will not collapse the wall but, the more we remove, the faster that will happen.
Keates feels that it is important to conserve the species simply “because they exist”, he said.
“Anything that exists deserves to exist longer.”