Page 28 - aug20

Creatures in the garden

CHAMELEONS:
If a seed or leaf suddenly drops as you’re walking under a tree, look
up, and if you’re lucky you might be able to spot the elusive
Chameleon.

Seeing a chameleon seems to be getting rarer and rarer these days, their declining
numbers due in part to habitat loss, but once in a while if you’re lucky, one visits your
garden. These species come in a range of colours, and many species have the ability to
change colour. The flap neck chameleon (above), Chamaeleo dilepis is a species of
arboreal chameleon, commonly seen in Botswana and Southern Africa, and can live
up to 7 years.

Chameleons are adapted for climbing and visual hunting, with their independently
mobile eyes, which is why they are so wonderful to have in the garden, as not only are
they beautiful, but they catch insects like caterpillars, crickets, ants, and other bugs too.

Attracting them to the garden is not so difficult as they enjoy eating leaves as well as
insects which are integral to most gardens, and while they cannot drink water from
a dish, they do lick their skin or surrounding leaves for moisture, so garden sprays
would probably be enough to provide the necessary water requirements. Try not to
use any pesticides in the garden, and do your best to provide a home for these lovely
creatures.
28 Text & photos by S.C