The illegal and secretive world of chameleon ranching Nat Geo

[JacksJill]

Catch your own chameleons any one??

 

[Angelwolf]

Wow. I never knew.

 

[JacksJill]

I wonder if this is one of the secretive online forums they mention.

 

[Fiona's Mom]

Ya'll can turn your chams loose in my yard..... Just put them in my outdoor cage please.

 

[Angelwolf]

I wonder if this is one of the secretive online forums they mention.

Ha ha! I had the same question!

 

[Crashbandit05]

Never thought I would see a chameleon hitchhiking a ride on an alligator

 

[JacksJill]

I wonder if that ended badly... for the alligator.

 

[Fiona's Mom]

Yep...I think the veiled has the upper hand and is trying to drown that wimpy gator.

 

[Decadancin]

Yep...I think the veiled has the upper hand and is trying to drown that wimpy gator.

For those of us who have kept veileds, we feel sorry for the gator...

 

[tjcondy]

All these comments are cracking me up
Jokes aside, very interesting clip about Florida and another exotic animal problem..

 

[Andie]

Yep...I think the veiled has the upper hand and is trying to drown that wimpy gator.

 

[Andie]

OK. I am no expert but is it driving anyone else bonkers that they would consider a chameleon, who does nothing but eat bugs(including those nasty palmettos), an invasive species?!

Even a veiled would not eat so much foliage as to cause damage.

My parents live in Florida and the iguanas are taking over the state!

I think they need to open a training facility to train chameleons to kick those iguana heineys!

 

[nightanole]

I dont know if i want to cover myself with wild veileds, its like they upped the anti for the people who have anole earrings.

 

[Boston Pitty]

Ha ha! I had the same question!

Hmmm...is that the part of the forum where you have to be an advanced member to gain access to? Good way to keep the good spots hidden lol

 

[Decadancin]

OK. I am no expert but is it driving anyone else bonkers that they would consider a chameleon, who does nothing but eat bugs(including those nasty palmettos), an invasive species?!

"an "invasive species" is defined as a species that is: 1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and. 2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health." https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/whatis.shtml

So, with Iguanas and Chameleons, are they invasive??? Yes, they are non-native, but what is the economic or environmental harm...

I can see an argument that many of the non-native geckos and anoles have pressured the native Anolis Carolinensis (green anoles) and I would consider them to be invasive, but unless the chameleons are threatening the population of an insect or lizard survival in the region I don't see how they are invasive. As for the iguanas, I haven't seen any evidence that they are invasive, just introduced (IMO).

So, not bonkers, but disappointed that terms get thrown around as fact and we are just supposed to believe it. Happens all too often. At least the narrator didn't consider them to be invasive, just the "expert" who we are supposed to believe.

I think the next episode is about the invasive panda population in many US zoos...

 

[Decadancin]

Besides, she states that these chameleons are slow moving and are being spread through humans to cover more range, obviously this is not true. Any chameleon that uses alligators for transportation can obviously cover a lot of ground...

 

[chameleonneeds]

They are indigenous/endemic to Madagascar and Africa. They are new species introduced to an environment. They are therefore alien invasive. What is it that you can't understand about that?

Before all of you throw around how people should be happy about this, because you're a chameleon loving biased, have any of you ACTUALLY studied (as a qyalified academic) the impact on the indigenous species there? Specifically the species that become prey to these chameleons?

Releasing exotic species can have serious negative effects on an ecosystem and such effects should not be undermined. Even if the impact is minimal now with more releases and more breeding you could have a problem on your hands. Better to be safe than sorry guys. That's the bottom line. Why do you think there are no Australians on this forum? Because there are strict systems in place in Australia to avoid this kind of situation. They cannot import, keep, breed nor trade most exotic species (exotic to Australia). Even as a South African, a rock throw away from Madagascar and East Africa, I have way less species of exotic chameleons available than those in Europe and the US. Quite ironic. But that is owed to the strict regulations in place regarding importing of exotic animals to avoid this sort of situation.

Don't be ignorant with your chameleons and other exotic pets.

 

[Decadancin]

They are new species introduced to an environment. They are therefore alien invasive.

What is it I can't understand about that? (assuming that you mean me?)

Alien, yes, but per the definition, not invasive. That is why I posted the definition. Not to start an argument over opinions. Posting this was in reaction to a member who was responding to part of the video that makes a claim. Again, there is no data that I know of to suggest they are having an impact on the environment. If you know of any I would love to see it (no attitude is intended in this comment, so please do not take it that way). No one here on this thread is saying it is acceptable or desired to set exotics free into new areas. Releasing exotic species can have serious negative effects, such as snakes, tegus, etc. and most do not support this practice.

 

[MSMorgan]

J.J.,

Thank you for posting the vid. Very interesting and informative.

 

[Andie]

"an "invasive species" is defined as a species that is: 1) non-native (or alien) to the ecosystem under consideration and. 2) whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health." https://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/whatis.shtml

So, with Iguanas and Chameleons, are they invasive??? Yes, they are non-native, but what is the economic or environmental harm...

I can see an argument that many of the non-native geckos and anoles have pressured the native Anolis Carolinensis (green anoles) and I would consider them to be invasive, but unless the chameleons are threatening the population of an insect or lizard survival in the region I don't see how they are invasive. As for the iguanas, I haven't seen any evidence that they are invasive, just introduced (IMO).

So, not bonkers, but disappointed that terms get thrown around as fact and we are just supposed to believe it. Happens all too often. At least the narrator didn't consider them to be invasive, just the "expert" who we are supposed to believe.

I think the next episode is about the invasive panda population in many US zoos...

I agree. However, my parents have told me the complex in which they live, no longer plants flowers, because the iguanas decimate all of them every year.

My father said officials are now instructing citizens in the "most humane way" to kill iguanas, because they've become such a nuisance.

I just pray this never happens to the chams!!!