Citizen Science
CHAMELEON PROJECT
Everybody loves a Cape Dwarf Chameleon (Badypodion pumilum). But we hardly ever see them anymore. Their habitat is fast disappearing under urban expansion, pesticides and domestic predators. Whale Coast Conservation to the rescue! We and our devoted band of volunteers have GPS- mapped their occurrence in urban areas of Greater Hermanus and keep a watchful eye on possible developments that may threaten them. We have the necessary authorization to remove threatened animals and relocate them to the chameleon sanctuary on the Whale Coast Nature Reserve.
To this end, our home school volunteers meet on a weekly basis to remove alien vegetation from the sanctuary to encourage indigenous growth for the benefit of the rescued “little slow foot” residents.
Since the start of the removal of alien invasive plants in 2020, there has been so much growth of the indigenous vegetation at the Chameleon Sanctuary and this encourages the volunteers to continue to remove these alien invasive plants to make room for fynbos plants which Cape Dwarf Chameleons favorite home.
As the work is ongoing at the chameleon sanctuary, please join us and help keep the chameleon sanctuary alien invasive plants free.
You can find out more about when we meet and the time by contact Shirley Mgoboza at 028 316 2527 or email shirleym.wcc@gmail.com