Leave wildlife where it belongs

“Wildlife is best left where it is. So if you want to see more of it, spend more time in nature, and make the most out of our beautiful reserves,” said KwaZulu-Natal Amphibian and Reptile Conservation’s Nick Evans..

CHAMELEONS and tortoises are some of the cutest animals around!

They’re certainly the most loveable of the reptiles to many people, whereas snakes and crocodiles are a lot less popular.

One obvious factor boosting the popularity of chameleons and tortoises, apart from their loveable appearance, is that they can’t really hurt anyone, and they’re slow moving. Unfortunately, these two traits make them easy ‘targets’.

All too often, while on holiday in more remote areas, people may come across a tortoise crossing the road.

A rare sight to some. “Ah cute!” is a common phrase used when a tortoise is seen. “Can we keep it?” is another. Many people decide that, yes, they can keep the tortoise, particularly if it’s a youngster. The tortoise is often picked up, and brought back home by the collector. That spells doom for that tortoise, sadly.

This is highly illegal. Tortoises are protected by law.

If you are caught with a tortoise you could receive a massive fine, at least. It is also highly unethical and unfair. Once you’ve taken that tortoise out of its natural habitat, it can never be released again after a spell in captivity. There is a risk it could pick up a parasite or a virus on its unplanned ‘holiday’.

Once reintroduced back into the wild, with other tortoises, this parasite or virus could infect others.

So if tortoises are seized by authorities, or handed over to them, the tortoise will

not be released. It will most likely be given to a facility that houses tortoises in this miserable situation.

Taking a tortoise out of the wild and putting it into captivity often has dire consequences, and not just what is stated above.

They may not receive the correct care, and could end up dying a slow, painful death.

Occasionally, tortoises grow larger than what the collector expects, and some people can’t keep a ‘big tortoise’, and they don’t know what to do with it.

Sometimes owners reverse over them, or they escape (as ridiculous as that sounds), and get run over. Captive tortoises have been stolen for food or traditional medicine.

Chameleons are not pets

Chameleons are, unfortunately, in the same boat.

Chameleons are becoming an ever more scarce sight. Some people want to keep it, because of its adorable nature.

Please, as hard as it may be to just leave it, please do not take it.

Chameleons are not good pets at all. They are easily stressed animals, and being kept in a cage leaves them permanently stressed. They also usually do not get the correct care, and can end up like tortoises: dying a slow, painful death.

These poor little reptiles are also often exported overseas for the pet trade. It’s such a shame.

If you want a pet chameleon, the best thing you can do, is to turn your garden into a chameleon-friendly sanctuary.

Plant indigenous shrubs and trees, for them to hide in. These indigenous plants will also attract lots of insects, so a chameleon who visits your garden will be well fed!

If you’re lucky enough to be able to do so, grow a small patch of grassland – chameleons love grasslands (another reason why this habitat is so important).

Once you’ve converted your garden to accommodate chameleons, you might be lucky enough to see one in your own backyard. That is far more rewarding than capturing and keeping one!

Never move a chameleon from one area to your garden. It may struggle to adapt to its new surroundings.

Don’t buy them

If you see tortoises and chameleons for sale on the side of the road, or online, please refrain from buying these animals.

All this does is fuel the trade, and it leads to more of these reptiles being taken out of the wild.

If you see someone selling these animals on the side of the road, please report it to the local SPCA or conservation authority immediately (you’d have to use Google here I’m afraid,

to find the closest branch to where you may be). Intersections around Sun City, in the North West Province, is where this practice most often occurs.

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