Contributed by Brigitte Hackl

I am completely obsessed with chameleons and have been for much of my life. These little elusive creatures are so special and very seldom seen. Sadly as with most things in nature, the environment is changing constantly and there are so many pesticides and other chemicals out there that affect not just the chameleons but all the little insects, reptiles, birds, mammals, etc out in the wild.

Around five years ago, I spotted my first chameleon in my garden. Even more special was the fact that she was gravid (pregnant with eggs). I was privileged to see how she developed and was able to watch her dig a hole to lay her eggs. The experience was beyond mind blowing. This Mama chameleon inspired me to document her journey.

Since then, each year around the same time I have had a gravid Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis) in my garden. A couple of times we have had a few babies in the garden, all of them were at least a few weeks old. Over the last few years I have regularly documented the chameleons in my garden.

This year to my utmost surprise my Rhodesian Ridgeback Tyr was sniffing around the same shrub where all the previous Mama chameleons had lived before they found a spot to lay their eggs.

Lo and behold, newly hatched teeny tiny baby Flap-necked chameleons had made their way out of the nest and onto the same shrub that the Mamas had called home. Needless to say, these teeny little creatures inspired me once again to dig out my camera. My inspiration to take photos had faded a little recently, luckily for me I was once again inspired. And possibly luckily for everyone else as well.

The highlight of my days and evenings at the moment is watching these babies grow and documenting their progress when I can. One of the cutest things ever is watching them “tuck” themselves in at night. Each one on the edge of a flimsy branch.

These elusive tiny and special creatures are lucky charms and also more importantly a sign of a healthy ecosystem.

I think my message really is that if we take better care of our environment, there will be more of these and other elusive creatures as well as their various food sources.

For now I will keep looking after my teeny babies and documenting their progress as and when they allow me.