The Chameleon of Mount Kulal

In the late 19th century, Count Sámuel Teleki de Szék (1845–1916) and Ludwig von Höhnel (1857–1942) led their celebrated East African expedition (1886–1889). They crossed the interior of East Africa, reaching Lake Rudolf (now Turkana) and Lake Stefanie (Chew Bahir), mapping unknown lands and recording new species. Their route brought them to the foothills of Mount Kulal, where an incident with an elephant forced them to retreat. They never climbed the massif.

From the summit, unseen by them, a mysterious chameleon watched — Trioceros narraioca — a species that would remain hidden from science for more than a century.

Its rediscovery came when Shukri Ladapicho, a citizen of Gatab village on Mount Kulal, assisted the expedition of David Modrý and Petr Nečas. Their work finally described the species, strengthening the scientific importance of Kulal. Importantly, with respect to the Samburu people, the chameleon was not truly "new": the name narraioca is simply a slightly Latinized form of the local Samburu word for this animal.

Mount Kulal had already been declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978, but the recognition of Trioceros narraioca as the only vertebrate species endemic to the massif reinforced its global status. The reserve protects remnants of once more extensive forests, which provide water, mist, and a mild climate for the Samburu people and other settlers in northern Kenya.

Today, Shukri shares recent photographs of Trioceros narraioca, showing how it thrives. More than a reptile, it has become a symbol of resilience, ecological balance, and cultural heritage, reminding us that even in remote landscapes, life endures and inspires stewardship.