A holidaymaker received an unexpected surprise while unpacking their suitcase after a trip to a Portuguese island—a live lizard had hitched a ride home with them.
According to the Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA), the stowaway, identified as a Madeiran wall lizard, had endured an “adventurous few days” before arriving in Guernsey.
GSPCA manager Steve Byrne shared that the lizard, now named Maximillion, was “doing very well” and would soon be looking for a new home.
This marks the second unexpected animal arrival in Guernsey within a week, following the discovery of a non-native grey squirrel in St Sampson on Monday.
Maximillion, measuring about five inches (13 cm) long, is currently in quarantine while his health is assessed. Fortunately, the islander who discovered him had a vivarium ready and safely transported him to the GSPCA.
“If he’s healthy, we’ll look to find him a new home, as returning him to his native habitat would be incredibly difficult,” Byrne explained.