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Lizard found in suitcase after Madeira holiday

George Thorpe
BBC News
GSPCA Split image of the Madeiran wall lizard which was found in a suitcase in Guernsey. It is grey-green in colour and is walking around on a mound of earth inside a glass case it is being kept in.GSPCA
An animal charity said the lizard was found while a suitcase was being unpacked

A lizard has been found alive in a holidaymaker's suitcase, as they unpacked after a trip to a Portuguese island.

The Guernsey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA) said the Madeiran wall lizard had been through an "adventurous few days" which led to it reaching Guernsey.

GSPCA manager Steve Byrne said the lizard named Maximillion, was "doing very well" and they hoped to find it a new home.

It is the second stowaway animal to make it to Guernsey in a week, after a non-native grey squirrel made it to the island and was spotted in St Sampson on Monday.

GSPCA manager Steve Byrne stands in a garden in front of a set of trees, a couple of park benches and a white single-storey building which has a brown door. He is wearing a grey shirt and has his glasses placed on top of his head.
GSPCA manager Steve Byrne said it was hoped a new home for the lizard could be found

Mr Byrne said the lizard was about five inches (13cm) long and was being kept in quarantine while its health was assessed.

He said the islander who found it "thankfully had a vivarium all ready set up so caught the lizard... and brought it up to us here at the GSPCA".

Mr Byrne added if the lizard is healthy "then we will look to find it a new home as it is so difficult to get them back to their native lands".

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