Stowaway gecko takes 4,000-mile trip in traveler's bra

Sept. 10 (UPI) -- A British woman unpacking her suitcase after a trip to Barbados made a shocking discovery -- a gecko that stowed away for a 4,000-mile journey inside her bra.

Lisa Russell, 47, contacted the RSPCA after she spotted the tiny gecko while unpacking her suitcase at her home in Thrybergh, a village near Rotherham, England.

Russell said she initially wasn't sure what the small object was inside the cup of her bra.

"I thought it was a tiny dead creature and then when it moved I started screaming -- it is not what you expect to find in your bra after a 4,000-mile journey," she told the RSPCA.

"The tiny lizard was lucky as the bra was on top of my suitcase on my clean pile -- as it was so hot out there I didn't bother wearing one. It must have been happy in its new pad!"

Russell said the gecko must have been in her suitcase for at least 24 hours, from the time she packed it to the time she started unpacking.

"I am just so shocked not only did it survive the journey, but also the fact it didn't get squashed as my suitcase was so full when we were returning I had to sit on it to get it zipped up," she said.

RSPCA Inspector Sandra Dransfield was dispatched to Russell's home to collect the gecko, which she named Barbie.

"Lisa was quite relaxed about the whole thing and thought it was funny that the gecko had safely made the transatlantic crossing in her bra -- unlike a lot of women the lizard must have found it comfy," Dransfield said.

Dransfield said the gecko did not appear to be injured.

"The gecko has traveled more than 4,000 miles and appears unscathed by her adventure and unlike most holidaymakers did not need to have COVID tests," she said.

Dransfield said Barbie is now doing well in the care of a reptile specialist.