By ANNE BESTON
Mercy Hospital has come to the aid of some of Auckland Zoo's fussiest eaters.
The hospital has donated two boxes of old surgical instruments which the zoo is using not only in veterinary operations but to feed its 25 adult Jackson's chameleons.
The colourful African natives demand a fair amount of attention.
Locusts, flies, crickets and grubs are let loose in their enclosure, but they dislike each other so much they will not search out dinner if another chameleon is close by.
"They're a husbandry nightmare," says reptile manager Vernon Tintinger.
"Because they're so unsociable it's difficult getting enough food near enough to them so they get enough to eat."
Obsolete surgery instruments are usually donated to Third World countries, says Mercy Hospital communications manager Lesley Gordon. But a staff member came up with the idea of giving them to the zoo.
It's the first time the hospital has given equipment to the zoo, although other hospitals have helped out before.
Mr Tintinger says the instruments would cost $120 each to buy.
"That's well outside my budget."
Chameleons are an endangered species in their homeland because of loss of habitat and heavy predation.
"They're a tasty morsel for snakes and other predators," Mr Tintinger says.
Their eyes operate independently and can swivel 180 degrees. Their most famous trait is their colour-changing ability, which is more a reflection of mood than a survival technique.
"They use colour as a communication tool, signalling to one another to go away or 'I'm interested in sex' or 'keep away, I'm pregnant'."
Sex between chameleons is a brief and fairly callous business. The entire mating process lasts between three and 20 minutes.
Auckland Zoo has earned a worldwide reputation for breeding chameleons and the reptiles are on its surplus list.
Wellington Zoo and Taronga Zoo in Sydney are both considering taking some, but Mr Tintinger says the species is notoriously difficult to keep.
Lovely grubs, top service
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.