When a boomslang corners a flap-necked chameleon in a tree, the unforeseen occurs in a battle of survival—proof that even small sightings in the wild can leave you breathless.
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Brian Abrahamson was on safari on the Maroela Loop in Kruger National Park one day, enjoying the peaceful backdrop from the Mareola trees. As his vehicle rounded a corner, he saw another car stopped on the side of the road.
As a man in the car singled them over to come witness something extraordinary, his heart rate immediately picked up. What exciting encounter was occurring over there?
Up in a tree right beside the road, a boomslang was hunting a flap-necked chameleon! Although it looked like the snake had the upper hand, cornering the chameleon and biting it repeatedly, the chameleon decided that it had had enough.
Chameleon’s Last Stand
In a crazy twist of events, the chameleon fought back viciously! Even though it wasn’t as fast as the snake, it had a few tricks up its sleeve.
The chameleon shifted colours from lime green to dark green, disorienting its attacker. In a stunning counter-attack, it used its agility to get underneath the snake’s abdomen and bit down as hard as it could.
While the snake was caught off guard by the retaliation of the chameleon, something else caught its eye.
Sky-High Tension
Up above the tree, an eagle snake hovered, hoping to benefit from an easy meal. The snake paused, sensing the danger.
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As both the snake and chameleon waited in anticipation for the eagle to leave, the chameleon began to feel the effects of the snake’s venom. Its movements became slower and more defeated as it tried to move away from the snake.
While this was happening, two beautiful lilac-breasted rollers entered the scene and began to mob the eagle, adding more drama to the already thrilling situation.
Fatale Finale
Eventually, the lilac-breasted rollers managed to briefly chase off the eagle, leaving a window of opportunity for the snake to close in on the exhausted chameleon. The snake executed its final strike right below the chameleon’s iconic flap.
After such a long and intensive battle, the snake was finally able to enjoy its meal – or so it thought. Suddenly, the eagle flew back over to the scene, perching itself on a nearby knob thorn tree.
This forced the snake to completely abandon its meal, leaving the dead chameleon in the tree and disappearing into the grass before it became lunch itself.
A Clash of Survival Instincts
Although chameleons are not the most intimidating creatures in the savanna, they have a few remarkable defensive traits. Their 360º vision, stereoscopic depth perception, and ability to change colour through specialize cells called chromatophores make them masters of survival.
Boomslang snakes often hunt chameleons by waiting in trees, camouflaged well with the branches, waiting to strike. Their venom is haemotoxic, disrupting the blood clotting mechanisms of their victims and giving the snake a big advantage.
Beyond the Big Five
While safari-goers often try to chase the experience of sighting one of the big five animals, paying attention to the interactions between smaller animals can often be equally or more exciting!
Patience in the bush and searching for these often-overlooked encounters can reward you with extraordinary moments like the one witnessed by Brian.