A Spanish family were in for a shock after returning home to find a toad had hitched a ride back all the way from Thailand.
The family arrived back in Barcelona and began unpacking their suitcases but were taken aback when they found the creature hiding amongst their clothes.
Despite not being poisonous, the Asian common toad, also known as a Duttaphrynus melanostictus, was classed as an invasive species.
The unknown family alerted the Rural Agents, with the government rules meaning emergency services should be alerted if “an animal outside its habitat” is found.
They also point out that “the proliferation of exotic species is related to international trade and travel”.
This means the animals should not be released into the wild.
There are similar rules in the UK which prohibits the release of non-native species into the wild.
This type of toad is also found to secrete toxic substances through its skin, although it does not pose a threat to human health, according to the website of the Ministry of Digital Transition.
The common toad entered the red list of potentially invasive species after it was found in a shipment of bonsais coming from China in Valencia in 2021.
