Lizard stowaway doing well in quarantine

It is about three inches long and is believed to be a gehyra.

It has been named Mr Patel and is currently in quarantine following the advice from the States vet.

But despite his long journey he is doing well.

Karen Jaggers said they had been on a three-week trip to India. But it was two weeks after they got back before they discovered the creature.

‘We had arranged a house move and were in the process of moving to the new house,’ she said.

‘I have a clothes rail at the new house and we arrived with my clothes to hang them up. On hanging up the first three items he fell out onto the floor.

‘He did not move at first and then I screamed and my husband said: “What is that?” We realised quickly that we needed to catch him as he dashed sideways. We managed to corner him and catch him in a glass bowl.’

They took him to the GSPCA immediately.

‘We were in shock, but now it is so funny to think that he survived a long flight,’ she said.

‘A lot of people have asking how he is doing and it is great to hear that he is doing well at the GSPCA.’

GSPCA manager Steve Byrne said it was an unusual case for them.

‘We rescue and help over 2,000 wild animals every year, but Mr Patel with his 8,000km-plus journey is certainly the furthest travelled we have had come into our care and without doubt one of the most unusual,’ he said.

‘As a non-indigenous animal, the little gehyra, which was found with no tail, is currently in quarantine and we are following advice from the States vet.

‘We have many bearded dragons and other reptiles, many in need of homes, but this is the first gehyra we have had in or even seen and we are trying to identify the exact species.’

Anyone looking to adopt a reptile needs to have the right set-up for the creature and understand how to care for them.

. Anyone wanting to donate to the care of Mr Patel and the other animals at the GSPCA can do so by popping into the shelter or via www.paypal.me/DonateGSPCA.