A stowaway baby gecko was found alive and well after travelling 5,000 miles from Zanzibar to Yorkshire in a couple’s suitcase.
The holidaymakers were back from a trip to the African island and had been home in Wakefield for four days when they found the creature in their luggage.
The tiny lizard, roughly the same size as a pound coin, had gone undetected even as the pair began unpacking on their return on March 23.
They put the reptile in a plastic container and called the RSPC, who then took it to be looked after at Reptilia Exotic Animal Rescue in Ossett.
Animal rescue officer David Holgate, who picked up the lucky lizard, said: ‘It is a big surprise that the gecko survived such a long haul journey in a suitcase – then to stay there for another four days before being spotted is pretty amazing.’
He added: ‘We’d like to thank the couple for contacting us and the animal rescue centre who helped us with this little lizard.’
A spokesperson for Reptilia added: ‘Accidentally imported geckos are very commonly seen in the majority of reptile rescues up and down the country.
‘We have a few of them with us at the moment that have come from various continents.
‘They seem to adapt very well to captivity and are seen to thrive in bioactive settings.
‘Once this one has settled in it will be ready to be rehomed once the quarantine period has passed.’
Stowaways from other climates, like geckos, will often have specific needs if they’re to survive in the UK, including controlled temperature, lighting and humidity.
Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 it is an offence to release such animals into the wild or to allow them to escape.
However the creatures can be looked after by specialist keepers, zoos, wildlife parks and rescue centres who have the necessary knowledge and facilities.
The RSPCA said holidaymakers should always give their cases an extra thorough check before heading home, and that any animals should be treated with caution until identified accurately.
Geckos, found on all continents except for Antarctica, have an average life span of five years in the wild and are mostly nocturnal, according to National Geographic.
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