A young gecko was found inside a bag of romaine lettuce at a Lidl between Chełm and Lublin, Poland, and later rescued by a customer who made a salad.
Gecko Discovered in Store‑Bought Lettuce
A customer at a Lidl supermarket in a town between Chełm and Lublin noticed a young Tarentola mauritanica gecko inside a bag of romaine lettuce she had purchased. The reptile was alive, and she began preparing a salad before realizing it was the gecko.
The incident was reported on Facebook by Bartłomiej Gorzkowski of Fundacja Epicrates, the charity that helps animals, who noted that the gecko had “incredible luck in its otherwise unlucky situation.”
Lizard Enters Quarantine and Adoption Process
After the gecko was transferred to the foundation, it received professional care and was named Mr. Bean. The animal has been kept in a sterile terrarium while it undergoes quarantine.
Fundacja Epicrates states it will accept the lizard for adoption only by someone who already has experience caring for this species and can provide appropriate conditions for its continued wellbeing.
Founder’s Remarks on Origin and Prevention
Gorzkowski later told TVN24 that the gecko came from Italy, a species common in the Mediterranean basin. He praised the woman’s quick action and urged shoppers to inspect packaged produce closely, noting that such small but unlucky creatures can hide in food.