GEORGE NEWS - As chainsaws and wood chippers were harnessed to clear up the storm debris across George this weekend, a different kind of rescue mission unfolded in the shadows of the fallen trees.

Armed with torches and buckets, residents from across town joined a growing ‘Chameleon Crew’ to save hundreds of tiny reptiles displaced by last week’s destructive windstorm before their temporary refuges disappeared with the clean-up operations.

George Herald shared the first alert by Sonja Steyn on its social media pages on Friday 15 May. What started as a spontaneous effort after Steyn began searching through some uprooted trees and storm debris has since grown into a remarkable community movement, with residents from different neighbourhoods heading out at night with torches to search for the small creatures before the damaged trees and branches were removed.

The paper found local Chameleon Crew member Kerry Murray on the corner of Union and Mitchell streets on Saturday morning, 16 May, as she was searching through the storm debris. She appealed for more volunteers to assist them before the branches and vegetation are processed through the wood chippers during the clean-up operations. At the time, Murray had already rescued three chameleons on Thursday evening and another 17 during Friday’s search efforts.

Volunteers have stressed the importance of returning rescued chameleons to the nearest living tree or shrub where they are found, as the reptiles are territorial and need to remain within their natural habitat.

Among those answering the call were sisters Cheninke van Heerden (13), a Grade Eight learner of Outeniqua High School, and Mianke van Heerden (10), a Grade Five learner of Laerskool George-Suid. Driven by their love of nature and their faith, they spent evenings searching through the storm debris and have so far rescued 32 chameleons, as well as geckos, frogs and snails.

Sisters Cheninke and Mianke van Heerden were among the young volunteers spending their evenings searching through the debris. They saved 32 chameleons, as well as some geckos, frogs and snails. Photo: Chantel van Heerden

In Heather Park, Cheryl Phillips described another evening of community spirit during which the volunteers relocated about 12 chameleons to some nearby trees.

Members of the Heather Park crew out and about, searching for chameleons. Photo: Supplied

Des Kiely said Phillip’s Facebook appeal encouraging families to search storm-damaged trees had developed into a citywide effort. Since then, the Chameleon Crew initiative has spread across George as several families joined the rescue efforts and hundreds of chameleons were reportedly saved.

Another little life saved. Residents are asked to relocate chameleons carefully as they are highly territorial and should ideally be placed individually in suitable nearby trees or safe habitats. Photo: Luan Webber

For many involved, the experience has become deeply emotional. Volunteer Luan Webber (52) shared a moving reflection on what the rescue efforts have meant to her.

"First off, I just want to say that I am just a volunteer, driven to help by the appeal by Kerry Murray. The tribute belongs to those who realised the need for urgent action, who took the initiative, mobilised and moved others to help. Too often we wait for someone else to solve the problem or to carry the emotional burden of the harm unfolding around us. Others sleep comfortably believing someone else will help. But there are those who cannot rest knowing there are precious little animals for whom the storm has not ended.

They were blown away and injured, their homes destroyed or cut down, dumped in bakkies and left in piles of branches and debris. These little animals try to climb upwards towards the light and warmth, hoping to be seen by someone who can help them. It can take hours before you find one, but the relief when you do is immeasurable. Sometimes they are only a silhouette at the tip of a twig stretching into the sky. They climbed upward, but up was not safe enough and they cannot escape the deadwood unless somebody sees them and reaches for them.

One life is saved from a terrible fate while the sound of A wood chipper grinds beside you. Then those little hands and tails curl around your fingers and you realise that nothing else matters in that moment. Watching them climb onto a new tree, hesitant at first and then with confidence, makes every hour worthwhile.

The heroes are the people who came every day to search, those who gave the single hour they had available, those who shared knowledge about the needs of chameleons and even the little boy who climbed into a large pile of unstable branches to rescue one I could not reach.

There are still many fallen trees and wood piles around town and in neighbouring areas. Let us keep looking and rescuing the chameleons out there. Let us check our own garden waste too. It is such a privilege for them to live here with us. Thank you for caring."

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