Frog found in supermarket banana delivery after 5,000-mile journey

An exotic tree frog was discovered in a bunch of bananas by supermarket staff after making a 5,000-mile trip from Colombia to south Wales.

The frog was found at the Asda store in Murray Street, Llanelli, last Monday.

It is believed the creature survived the long journey into a cooler climate without food or drink by slowing down its metabolism, as amphibians are able to do.

Columbia is the UK’s biggest supplier of bananas, with hundreds of thousands of tonnes of the fruit making the journey each year.

The frog, now named Asda in honour of his rescuers, has now been transferred to specialist animal centre Silent World To You in Haverfordwest.

RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper praised the Asda store staff for keeping the frog safe.

“We’re so grateful to the members of the Asda team who contacted us,” she said.

“One team member spotted the frog, while another confined the frog and took him home.

“This quick thinking helped keep this frog safe.

“Frogs and other amphibians are so good at shutting down their bodies when they need to.

“It seems highly likely that’s exactly what this frog did to survive this long journey without food.

Ginny Spenceley, from Silent World To You, said it was not uncommon for frogs or spiders to “hitch a ride” in fruit deliveries as this are no longer sprayed or treated.

The centre has put in a special order of crickets for the frog, who will live in a heated animal house in a planted terrarium.

“Fortunately, he’s doing really well and, funnily enough, got very comfortable in a banana skin as we helped settle him into his new, less familiar surroundings,” Mrs Spenceley said.

“Asda the frog is very small – with a body about the size of my thumb, but longer back legs. Of course, we don’t know if it is a baby or an adult.”

A spokesman for Asda added: “We are pleased that Asda the frog is safe and well and hope he enjoys his ‘hoppy’ new home.”