In 1972, the Jackson's Chameleon (Chamaeloeo jacksonii) was introduced to the Hawaiian Islands from its native land of Kenya and Tanzania. In the last 30 + years, these species have multiplied and formed a large breeding population on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii.
We find these friendly guys & gals living in our coffee trees, while picking coffee or pruning, also hanging on a branch. Not uncommon to have one climb on you without even knowing. The males have horns, girls do not. They can change color as they move place to place. They are a magical little animal living and sharing our life on the farm.
We are very careful and considerate to their safety. When we prune our coffee trees every year, we lay the branches on the ground for a few days to give the Jackson’s a chance to climb another tree. We do see them walking across the lawn, we pick them up to help them along. They move very slowly.
They have long tongs that shoot out pretty far to catch bugs.
They are also made famous in a TV commercial for paint. On TV they can talk to each other, sometimes we think we hear them on the farm.
Aloha
