News Anilogistic

A gecko in the salad: an exotic “passenger” from Italy ends up in Poland.

An unusual discovery was made by a resident of the Lublin region. While preparing a bean salad, the woman noticed that something was moving inside a package of arugula. As it turned out, a live Moorish gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) — a species native to Mediterranean countries — was hiding among the greens.
According to Bartłomiej Gorzkowski from the Epicrates Foundation in Lublin, where the animal was taken, the gecko was lucky to survive.
“This young gecko had a lot of luck in his generally unlucky situation,” Gorzkowski said. “He travelled in refrigerated conditions and then spent several days in a fridge. Fortunately, he was noticed before vinegar and dressing were added to the salad.”
The information on the package indicated that the arugula came from Italy — the country from which representatives of this species are most often imported. In Southern Europe, the Moorish gecko is a familiar sight in homes and hotels, where it hunts insects and is considered harmless to humans.

The woman who found the reptile acted responsibly — instead of throwing it away, she sought help.
“Her reaction deserves recognition,” the foundation’s representative emphasized. “If she had simply released the gecko outside, it would not have survived.”
The animal, now named Mr. Bean, is under the care of specialists. The foundation has provided it with sterile conditions and appropriate temperature. In the near future, the gecko will be placed for adoption.
“There are many people interested,” Gorzkowski said. “We will choose someone experienced in keeping this species and capable of providing proper care.”
The tiny gecko from the arugula turned out to be, perhaps, the most unexpected “import” of the season. And his story is proof that attentiveness can sometimes save a life — even that of a creature that accidentally ended up in the wrong container.
2025-11-04 05:00 Incidents and accidents