The Quest for Chameleons
by Alberto Gonzalez Gallina
June 27, 2005

When I first came to Madagascar I found out finding chameleons wasn’t an easy task. As creatures that rely on cryptic camouflage to conceal themselves, they’re really hard to spot. It took me about two weeks to find my first one. But, after a while, you train your eyes, and out of nowhere chameleons start to appear, and you realize they’re quite common.

Now, this is my second trip, so I thought… finding chameleons again… piece of cake! But guess what?, I’ve lost practice and couldn’t find a thing…even though searching as desperate. Four days…and I’ve started finding them again (the chameleon eye is back!). Thing is, you’ve got to be a little obsessive about seeking those fellows, and with that…and a great deal of patience…you’ll be ready to find your own. So, here are some tips you might find useful:

Know them (how they look, their motion, where they are)
Keep your senses sharp (movement can give away their position)
Let go of your conscious self (use the force)
Have a lot of patience (they’ll come out in time….don’t be frustrated)

So now you know…. Go out and find yourself a fine fat chameleon…Happy chameleon hunting!