Southern Portugal Part III

[Andreas Thorbeck]

Having left Silves we went further east towards the Spanish boarder. We spent two nights at Vila Real de Santo Antonio which lies on the Guadiana river.

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Between VRSA and Monte Gordo where you can find huge hotels (mass tourism can be found here in summer) there`s a small piece of land which lies between the street connecting the two towns and the sandy beach.

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Here you find a small forest mainly consisting of pine trees and broom (Stauracanthos boivini /Genista ssp.). Towards the beach you find more and more Genista ssp. and the socalled Retama bushes (Retama monosperma).

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It is this combination of plants which lets the biggest population of the European Chameleon (Chameleo chamaeleon) thrive in this area. However, these animals aren`t easy to find...

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Here they are:

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Our search went completely different in 2008 and 2009. In 2008 we were able to find 15 animals within two days, in 2009 we found only one young animal on one day. One reason could have been the colder weather in 2009...
By the way: These animals are strictly protected by law. Every day guards patrol the area and impose high fines if they catch people trying to collect animals. It is even forbidden to touch the animals - which makes it difficult to take good photos.

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Adult animals mainly live in the high Retama bushes. Females have to come down to the ground when they want to find a good place for their eggs. This is why the Genista bush is so important. Females dig their tunnels between the narrow roots of the Genista ssp.. This is very hard work and many females die shortly after having laid their eggs...

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From Monte Gordo we went on along the Guadiana River towards Mertola which is in the Alentejo province. We went through beautiful landscapes again.

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End of part III!