Frog found in supermarket banana delivery transported from Colombia to Wales
An exotic tree frog was discovered in a bunch of bananas delivered to a supermarket following a 5,000 mile journey from Colombia to south Wales.
On Monday 29 June, staff at Asda on Murray Street in Llanelli came across the frog among their delivery of bananas.
It is believed the frog, which is thought to be a Banana Tree Frog, survived the journey without any sustenance by slowing down its metabolism.
The team at the Asda supermarket chain contacted animal welfare charity the RSPCA following their discovery.
The creature has since been named “Asda” in honour of his rescuers, and transferred to Silent World To You in Haverfordwest, Wales, a specialist animal centre.
RSPCA inspector Gemma Cooper said she is “so grateful” to the Asda employees who contacted the charity.
“One team member spotted the frog, while another confined the frog and took him home,” Ms Cooper said.
“This quick thinking helped keep this frog safe.”
Ms Cooper explained how frogs are able to adapt their bodies when in unfamiliar environments
“Frogs and other amphibians are so good at shutting down their bodies when they need to,” she said
“It seems highly likely that’s exactly what this frog did to survive this long journey without food.”
Ms Cooper added that fortunately, the frog’s “remarkable journey has a happy ending – with the little chap now safe and well at a specialist facility in Pembrokeshire”.
Silent World To You, the specialist animal centre where the frog is now residing, has put in a special order of crickets to feed the exotic creature.
Ginny Spenceley, who works at the centre, said that the frog is “doing really well” in his new environment.
“Funnily enough, got very comfortable in a banana skin as we helped settle him into his new, less familiar surroundings,” she 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 spokesperson for Asda stated: “We are pleased that Asda the frog is safe and well and hope he enjoys his ‘hoppy’ new home.”
