"Free the Chameleons" read one of the dozens of emails, indicative of the sentiments of everyone who wrote. Thanks for the emails and we are happy to report that several other people have contacted us wanting to find out more about releasing chameleons from certain death in the spice souks.
Meanwhile, View from Fez reporter Helen Ranger has been on the case. She admits in her article to more than a passing interest in chameleons and includes some useful information. Here's her report.
Feeding the freed Chameleons of Fez
Helen Ranger
I've had a lot of fun searching out information on chameleon diets. Firstly you should understand that young chameleons like fruit flies. As they grow older, be careful about how many larger winged insects your pets eat such as moths as all those wings can be difficult to digest. You can imagine they might be a bit windy.
I have to admit a particular interest in chameleons. On a trip to Madagascar a few years ago, my guide in the rain forests of the north-eastern side of the island on the Maroantsetra peninsula showed me the smallest chameleon in the world, less than the length of my little fingernail. And then in the nature reserve close to Toamasina there are those massive specimens that measure half a metre without counting the tail (or indeed the tongue) that are bright turquoise with a red stripe. Best of all though, was the family of much more ordinary chameleons that I had in my Cape Town garden – they live(d) on the rose bushes and the babies were a delight to watch.
Sad to say, the Fort Worth Zoo tells us that these very delicate reptiles usually die while in captivity. They require extensive housing, special vitamin and mineral supplementation, exposure to UV lighting, a varied diet, and unusual watering in order to thrive in captivity’, we're told. Not only that, but you'’re advised to "gut-load" the insects that you feed your little darlings - that is, fatten up the crickets and grubs and other goodies with vitamin-rich foods. Give the insects potatoes, carrots, cabbage, fish flakes, low-fat kitten food, bee-pollen, and thrown in some calcium and vitamins. The bottom line, says ChameleonsOnline.com, feed your insects well so that your chameleons thrive.
Hamdulillah, we don't have to worry about any of that. Fortunately for us and our chameleons, they live in the citrus trees of the riads of Fes (how spoilt is that!!) and can find all the nutrition (and correct UV light, no doubt) necessary for a very happy life.
PS. Sorry Riad Zany, can't find anything about wasps and bees. But I'd like to know how you can tell they're Ghengis and Boadicea … ?
Tags: Morocco Fes, Maghreb news
1 comment:
amazing the question at the end is very acurate, i would add that Boadiea is the female and ghengis is the male (hahaha)
nice day
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