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Panther Chameleon Lost In Daly City, CA Since June Found Alive On Powerline

Panther chameleons are an arboreal species that live between five and eight years

The panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) that was found stuck on a powerline in Daly City, CA was rescued after three days perched on the line.

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A panther chameleon (Furcifer pardalis) that was found stuck on a powerline in Daly City, CA was rescued after three days perched on the line.

The lizard, according to SFGate.com clung to the powerline, not moving at all. So the man who first saw the reptile called the Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA. The SPCA worked with an AT&T worker and came up with a plan to rescue the runaway reptile with a modified butterfly net. After some coaxing, the lizard let go of the power line and fell into the net.

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“Clearly, someone’s exotic pet had escaped,” Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA Communications Manager Buffy Martin Tarbox told Sfgate at the time. “Or it had gotten loose from a pet store.”

The owner of the chameleon came forward November 6 to claim the lizard. She told SFGate that Meraxes, who is 1.5 years old, went missing in June. She lives just a few doors down from where Meraxes was rescued.


Panther Chameleon Care Sheet


“It’s truly a miracle that he survived this long,” Tarbox told Sfgate.

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Panther chameleons are an arboreal species that live between five and eight years. These reptiles are super popular with reptile keepers and are widely captive bred.