32 Chameleon eggs were removed during an emergency caesarean; while mom didn’t survive, 17 of her eggs have successfully hatched.
Johannesburg, South Africa (04 April 2022) – Friends of Free Wildlife helped a heavily pregnant Chameleon back in 2021 by performing a caesarean; while she didn’t survive, 17 of her babies hatched and have now been released back into the wild.
Friends of Free Wildlife is run by a group of passionate and qualified wildlife rehabilitators who have rebuilt a fully permitted Community/Volunteer-based Wildlife Centre. Its mission is to Rescue, Rehabilitate, Release and Educate.
The organisation was founded in December 2015 and has worked tirelessly to save as many small wild creatures as possible.
In 2021, the organisation had taken in a pregnant chameleon. The emergency caesarean was performed by the Bryanston Avian, Exotic and Small Animal Clinic. Dr Jean Davidson performed the surgery and hoped it would save the mother but sadly, she passed away a few days later. Dr Davidson was able to harvest 32 eggs from the heavily pregnant mother.
Vet nurse, Cassey Ure from Craighall Vet Hospital offered to incubate the eggs until they were hatched and the young would be ready for release. Sr. Ure spent months watching over the eggs. Finally, in late December, the first eggs started hatching.
By the 4th of March, 17 eggs had successfully hatched, and the babies were all released in a safe area together. The Crocodile River Reserve now has 17 bright new chameleons. Hopefully, they will go on to live long, happy lives.
You can find out more about the wildlife cared for by Friends of Free Wildlife here.
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