00:01It's a master of camouflage and looks almost like a little dinosaur. The Jackson's
00:08chameleon. The male uses its three horns to impress females and in fights with other males.
00:27On his own land, conservationist Moses Tindiweji has created a small sanctuary to these creatures.
00:34Half an acre, around a third of a football field, arable land that could just as well be
00:40used to grow crops. Almost all the people, farmers around me have cultivated, they have
00:46used all their land. So it appears they have nowhere to stay. So I decided that this land,
00:53if I leave it there for them, they can be protected. But not only the chameleon, but also you can
00:59see some birds and some other living organisms. You can find them here.
01:04Pungu is a rural area in southwest Uganda. Much of the land here is cultivated to grow tea,
01:11coffee, bananas, millet. This causes the chameleon's habitat to shrink. The little reptiles have
01:19several superpowers. Not only can they change color depending on temperature and mood, they
01:25also have extremely flexible eyes. And they come in handy to hunt insects with their super-fast,
01:32whip-like tongue. They keep the insect population in check, something our crops benefit from as well.
01:40Moses plants shrubs that are slowly disappearing from the area due to farming, but which are crucial
01:46for maintaining the ecosystem's balance. This chase is good for this chameleon because it brings
01:52a variety of insects on which the chameleon feed is on. The conservationist wants to pass on his
02:02fascination. I'm also empowering the younger generation, especially this son of mine, also to learn how to
02:13protect the environment. In the village nearby, you get a sense of the role the chameleon plays
02:19in daily life, with the villagers happy to share their long-held beliefs.
02:27If your ear is infected, you put the chameleon's tail in your ear, then take it back to the wild.
02:35You find it eating insects, but if it doesn't change color for a week, know that drought is approaching.
02:46If someone kills it, though it is a living creature, that disturbs the peace, and it can bring harm, even
02:54to my child.
02:57The many stories surrounding the chameleon have grabbed the attention of the younger generation.
03:02This primary school class visits Moses sanctuary and has already learned about it in school.
03:08The chameleon, though not endangered, chameleons are protected by law in Uganda.
03:21And luckily, anyone can create safe spaces for them as well, and authorities support that.
03:28It's allowed, you only need to come to us, we give you a license, and you turn the wildlife, or
03:33that is the wild animals and the plants, in your garden or on your land, into an opportunity that can
03:40bring you tourism, so that you can benefit from them.
03:43It's a model with wider appeal.
03:46These young craftsmen are also tapping into the community conservation program.
03:50They create chameleon and gorilla-themed items as souvenirs.
03:56Tourists come to see them and support us.
03:59They buy them, then we also buy goats, cows, and chicken for our livelihood.
04:06And while others carry living from their craft, Moses and his son continue their mission.
04:13What should we do as Ugandans and the world at large?
04:17We should restore the habitats by doing agroforestry, by afforestation.
04:23We should also put strict laws against illegal wildlife trade in order to conserve them.
04:30Then we should also do community education.
04:35We make the community be aware of the importance of these chameleons in the environment.
04:41They know that they are protecting not just the chameleons, but also the system that protects us.
04:51Tracking and filming the three horned chameleon is such a great experience I had.
04:56And one of the things that really caught my attention is that you have to be patient while filming these
05:02creatures.
05:03One of the things is that they come out a bit late from their hideouts to feed on insects.
05:08And if you scare it, it tactfully withdraws back into its hideout.
05:12And something else that really caught my attention is the growing voice from young environmental defenders who believe this creature
05:21should be given a second chance to live on.
05:23And it should live on indeed for the future.
05:27And I believe as they grow older, we could see the restoration and thriving of wildlife that is under threat.
05:35You're right.
05:36You're right.
05:36You're right.
05:36You're right.
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