Motherlode Chameleon
Chameleon Enthusiast
As most of you chameleon enthusiast know there is population of Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus on the Hawaiian islands. Just happens thought that as a college graduation gift my brother and I have gone to the islands Maui. Both being huge enthusiasts of chameleons we had to add a Jackson Chameleon expedition to the itinerary.
To start looking we got some tips from reliable sources from the forums and friends and even locals and decided to go to a region called upper Kula. We spent about an hour and fifteen minutes (3/8/2013) just driving around as most of the land was privately owned and access for chameleon hunting was extremely limited. With no signs of any chameleons or progress for good hunting ground we went to a local resort for dinner before we headed back down the hill to the home where we were staying. However as it turned out the resort had a botanical garden and the management said they had Jacksons Chameleons in their botanical gardens you just really had to search for them. My brother Chris B. Rich and I search high and low for adults and juveniles however none we're to be found. No chameleons however we ended the day with a gorgeous view and a great diner.
Last minute on Sunday (3/11/2013)we had a change in our itinerary due to a tropical storm and instead of going deep sea fishing we decided to go to the Iao Valley. This is a much more lush and wetter location and decided to look and have a second go at locating Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus in the wild on this vacation. It was not the recommend Jacksonii hunting habitat however it looked to be the best montane chameleon habitat to me and they we're documented as occurring in this location.
My brother and I hiked up a rather short public trail of about a half mile to the top of the trail slowly looking for chameleons as we went. With how lush the greenery was we decided to take our time and look for a Jacksonii sunning at the ends of the branches. As spotting any deeper in the crowns of the trees with how lush the plant life was in that area was not probable at all. We made it to the top and although we had not spotted a Jacksonii yet we were jazzed to make it to the top. After looking around and about to start the decent of the Iao Valley Trail Head I spotted in front of me a familiar sway. It was a sub adult female Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus. We observed and photographed her for a good long while and a crowed grew then we decided to descend and look for more specimens.
To start looking we got some tips from reliable sources from the forums and friends and even locals and decided to go to a region called upper Kula. We spent about an hour and fifteen minutes (3/8/2013) just driving around as most of the land was privately owned and access for chameleon hunting was extremely limited. With no signs of any chameleons or progress for good hunting ground we went to a local resort for dinner before we headed back down the hill to the home where we were staying. However as it turned out the resort had a botanical garden and the management said they had Jacksons Chameleons in their botanical gardens you just really had to search for them. My brother Chris B. Rich and I search high and low for adults and juveniles however none we're to be found. No chameleons however we ended the day with a gorgeous view and a great diner.
Last minute on Sunday (3/11/2013)we had a change in our itinerary due to a tropical storm and instead of going deep sea fishing we decided to go to the Iao Valley. This is a much more lush and wetter location and decided to look and have a second go at locating Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus in the wild on this vacation. It was not the recommend Jacksonii hunting habitat however it looked to be the best montane chameleon habitat to me and they we're documented as occurring in this location.
My brother and I hiked up a rather short public trail of about a half mile to the top of the trail slowly looking for chameleons as we went. With how lush the greenery was we decided to take our time and look for a Jacksonii sunning at the ends of the branches. As spotting any deeper in the crowns of the trees with how lush the plant life was in that area was not probable at all. We made it to the top and although we had not spotted a Jacksonii yet we were jazzed to make it to the top. After looking around and about to start the decent of the Iao Valley Trail Head I spotted in front of me a familiar sway. It was a sub adult female Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus. We observed and photographed her for a good long while and a crowed grew then we decided to descend and look for more specimens
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