Exeter Zoowatch

Chameleon

As we all know, there�s never a dull moment to be had in Exeter , and Exeter Zoo is no exception. To find out what all the hubbub is about, Tim Dart, head of the zoos reptile house joins us now.
Hiya Mark!
So, Tim, what�s going on?
I�ve only just started, and, well I�d never have believed that looking after a reptile house would prove to be so much work. First I find out that you have to feed the animals- and now this!
Hold on- you�ve just started at this job?
Yeah.
So what did you use to do?
I was a marine biologist.
So why did you stop?
I found out that dolphins weren�t fish! I tell you- it�s unnatural! So decided to stick to species that are strictly land based.
Hold on- aren�t you in charge of some amphibians too?
Yeah, like I say, from now on it�s purely land based animals for me.
So what�s happened now?
It�s this new animal we got in.
What�s that?
A <obviously reading> camel...
A camel?!
Hold on- camelleeeooo
Chameleon?
Oh, you�ve seen it have you?
No, just took a guess.
So, there�s this chameleon thing we bought from the pet- sh uh, specially shipped in from lands afar.
So?
So I put this chameleon in its cage, with all its leaves and things, locked it up. Then, when I come back to the cage- the darn animal�s gone- like it had vanished into thin air.
Almost as if it had faded into the background?
Precisely!
Would it surprise you if I told you that chameleons have a natural ability to blend into their surroundings- a kind of biological camouflage?
uh.. no.. I did know that. Hold on a second. <Talks to side in obviously his own voice> �Here you are, Tim�, I�ve found the chameleon, it must have escaped- but it�s not your fault at all. For some reason.� Oh, thank you.. erm Tom. So there you have it, all cleared up! Nothing to trouble you at all! Bye Mark!
Goodbye and thank you, Tim Dart!
Cheers! Say, you don�t know if alligators can do that blending thing do you?
No, they can�t.
Oh pants.