We used to rescue chameleons and put them in a specific tree in our garden when we lived in Valley Road. We never saw them again and presumed they were living unseen in our garden.
Many years later, after saving numerous chameleons, we discovered a rather large and very well-fed vine snake living in that same tree. The penny dropped. We hadn’t saved a single Chameleon, but had instead sentenced them to a horrible death.
We called the snake catcher to help with the relocation. I remember this snake throwing itself angrily around the back of the backie canopy. The snake was safely relocated, and no harm came to him. I doubt that the snake ever got regular meal deliveries again. After all those years of free food, his new life must have been a slight disappointment.
Camo Chameleon is a tribute to all the chameleons that lost their lives to the vine snake of 35 Valley Road, Crestview.