Pics of releasing my Jackson male into the wild today! Born free, now living free!

[rj1204]

I have posted a few times about my boy but I will start my thread with the basics. I have (or had) a male Jackson adult, outdoor enclosure on Oahu, perfect temps, 24 x 24 x 48, plenty of plants and hiding, and natural rain. I got him about a week ago and he was captured from the wild.

He has been very stressed (as expected) and always runs and tries to bite. He ate well for me day one but has gradually become more stressed as the days have gone by. I decided he most likely would not adjust as a baby or young Jackson would and looking out for the benefit of the cham, I decided it was best to let him go. My kids are of course heart broken but on the flip side, they didn't spend much time with him and never even got to hold him. Yeah, he may have adjusted or may not.

I put all remaining crickets in his cage, probably about 10 and he ate a few. I let him eat in private for a while so hopefully he got a good last meal. I took him out toward the Pali lookout on Oahu. This is where the guy I bought him from caught him. I put him on a tree and off he went. He is definitely a good looking guy and looks pretty healthy. I believe he will now live a better life than anyone could give him being free with plenty of food and perfect environment. Anyways, attached are some pics of me freeing him. Take care little guy and good luck!

 

[maxttu]

I can respect this. Nice job setting him free.

 

[carol5208]

I am glad you let him go if that is where he came from and I am sure he will thrive and survive. I am sure he is going to be a lot happier not caged up and free in the wild.

 

[KiloTheChameleon]

Beautiful, thanks for sharing sorry for the loss for the kids, i bet it hurt, but im sure they understand he will be happier

 

[SaintJimmy]

If he was WC as an adult and then given to you, I can understand why he didn't adjust. Good luck little Jacksons.

 

[laurie]

I know you were torn about what to do, but I do think you make a great choice for the cham. Kudos.

 

[little leaf]

that is so nice of you to let him have his freedom back- and give it back to him so soon instead of waiting for him to get sick, and then letting him go- that first pic- it looks like even the cham is giving you a nod of respect and thanks over his shoulder I had a reallllllllly bad day, but this made me happy THANK YOU

 

[SMCNARY]

He was a fantastic looking guy!!! I must say I HAVE THE MOST RESPECT FOR YOU as what you did was 100% for your Cham!!!!!! That was a hard decision but you made the best one for your Chem. I hope you can find a CB chem and enjoy having and keeping one as it is the most fantastic pleasure to do so. I only wish I lived in a place like you that you could keep a chem outside in the most perfect enviroment like you had set up for this guy!!!! My most respect and sadness go out to you and your family!!! I hope you will not give up on keeping a cb cham as you have the best possible weather and temps for keeping a cham and you built a very fantastic cage for him. Please keep us posted should you get another cham,again my hat is off to you!!! WELL DONE
Steve

 

[lovepicasso]

As hard as it is to let them go, that was a very unselfish thing you did, I'm sure he will be OK, in the only environment that he knows....I will be saying a prayer that he makes it to a long free life.

 

[ChameleonMom]

Beautiful story... Thanks, I needed that!

 

[rj1204]

Thank you for all the kind comments. My family and I were very excited about our first cham. We always put the welfare of the animal first. I am a firm believer in purchasing captive born vs. wild caught any day. Unfortunetely I knew their was a possibility of the new guy not adjusting and Ive seen plenty of other reptiles get sick and die due to stress. My girls never even got to hold him and still have never even touched a chameleon. I had to wait until they went to school take him to his new home.....or old home. They were disappointed but they understand he is happier where he is now.

As for him thriving, I have no doubt he will be just fine. The guy who caught him got him from that same area. As soon as my boy got on the tree, he moved through the brush like it was his home. Anyways, we will take a break from chams for a bit and maybe start looking for some captive born sub-adults in a couple. The enclosure is good to go and I may make a few modifications.......I might put aluminum screen over the entire thing (over the 1/4" hardware cloth) to keep the crickets in. Again, thank you everyone for the support and good luck with your chams.

 

[aimhigher38]

I can respect that... I always try to get captive bred when possible.... Thanks for sharing ur story

 

[arnau666]

nice job ! i am sure he will do fine in the wild !
respect !

 

[pssh]

I totally understand why you did that, and I bet he appreciates it.

I'm curious though, is that legal? I thought in most (if not all) places in the US its illegal to release non-native species, even if they are already established in the wild.