Alcatraz...

[maxttu]

They say that the biggest torture with Alcatraz inmates was the ability to smell, hear and SEE the San Francisco city life. Another words, freedom!

I'm sitting outside watching my cham (still nameless) and it looks like he's dreaming of being in the trees that are in his sight! Are we the people of San Francisco and our chams are inmates of Alcatraz?? They want freedom!!

At least we know we're giving them a quality of life that is not guaranteed in the wild. Food, nutrients, water, heat and shelter... That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Thoughts?

 

[ChameleonFan1989]

I think it depends as to whether our chams are CB or WC. I think WC ones may see it that way because I do believe every animal has their own thoughts just a human does. I've said this many times I don't like people keeping WC chams and they moan and groan and wonder why they die, they are wild and stay that way. CB ones are different, they've been born and bred around humans and human enviroments and don't know any different and I bet they aren't even aware their madgascar exists.

As long as you are looking after them probably and they have enough room and the proper food, watering and lighting etc they'll be fine. And sometimes how nature is and people destroying everything, think they are better off with us.

 

[DanSB]

Wild vs Captive life spans. We can't know if or what our chameleons feel when they are in their cage and the world is outside. I personally look at life spans. An animal that lives longer in the wild is likely healthier and happier in the wild, an animal that lives longer in captivity is likely happy.

Probably with the reptile brain things are looked at in terms of basic needs rather than esoteric desires. Food, water, safety, nutrition, and the correct climate for their biology they are likely as happy as could be possible. Or another angle possibly not so much happy but lacking in stress. Maybe they have no ability to feel joy and only an ability to not be stressed?

I don't know the answers but my general belief is that an animal in captivity will normally be happier than an animal in the wild as long as all their needs are taken care of. For some animals such as birds this includes social entertainment and play time.

I'm not opposed to thinking a reptile has emotions, but I would bet they aren't exactly the same as a mammals or a birds and I'm not really sure if anyone has figured out how to judge this other than longevity and health. It is well documented that a stressed unhappy organism becomes sick and dies.

 

[maxttu]

Great thoughts. I just found the inmate thing interesting when I took the tour @ Alcatraz and I can only imagine how it must have killed them to hear and smell the nightlife of SF and not be able to do anything about it.

Anywho, I was just watching my lil guy eyeballing the trees and was just wondering what was going on inside that pea-sized brain of his...

 

[shaunaroxanne]

They say that the biggest torture with Alcatraz inmates was the ability to smell, hear and SEE the San Francisco city life. Another words, freedom!

I'm sitting outside watching my cham (still nameless) and it looks like he's dreaming of being in the trees that are in his sight! Are we the people of San Francisco and our chams are inmates of Alcatraz?? They want freedom!!

At least we know we're giving them a quality of life that is not guaranteed in the wild. Food, nutrients, water, heat and shelter... That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Thoughts?

Since he is nameless, why don't you name him Alcatraz? That's a cool name, I wish I would have thought of it for one of mine!

 

[maxttu]

Since he is nameless, why don't you name him Alcatraz? That's a cool name, I wish I would have thought of it for one of mine!

That's not a bad idea! I'll def toss it in the mix with some others that I'm considering! Thx!

 

[maxttu]

Orrrrr, The Rock??

 

[Olimpia]

I actually thought that's where the story was going, that you were going to name him Alcatraz, which would be a sweet name for a panther!

 

[maxttu]

I actually thought that's where the story was going, that you were going to name him Alcatraz, which would be a sweet name for a panther!

My panther went AWOL, this is for my verrucosus...

 

[SonTigerPantherCham]

I know Krash hates being in his cage, especially after his 2 escapes.
So I put my chams (yes, one at a time) outside in free range everyday. They all love roaming around this environment. It is a 7x7x5 heavy leaved/branch bush. They get sun, shade, roaming and safety

I just watched a special on Alcatraz, amazing story