Cardiff student finds a toad in her suitcase after returning from Thailand

Hannah Turian, a Psychology student at Cardiff University, had recently returned from a volunteering trip in Thailand when a toad jumped out of her suitcase.

Hannah said she was “quite jet-lagged” on the day she arrived, but the following morning, as she talked to her mum on the phone, she heard something move and didn’t know what it was. 

When she saw something move inside her suitcase, she immediately shut it close and ran out of the room screaming. The commotion woke up one of her housemates, who helped carry the suitcase to the bathroom.

This is when the toad jumped out.

“I was scared because some things in Thailand are quite dangerous. We didn’t know if it was venomous so we called the RSPCA” said Hannah.

When Hannah spoke to someone at the RSCPA, she was told no one was able to collect the toad, which Hannah had now named Robert. 

After a 35-hour journey, including 13 hours in the plane’s hold, Robert the toad, was beginning to show signs of wear, his skin had turned a dull shade of green and he immediately jumped into a bowl of water that Hannah had left out. 

After she had posted online about the toad, Hannah was able to find Jackie, who re-homes and shelters reptiles in her house in Cwmbran and came forward to the rescue. 

Now, going by the name Ozzy, Jackie said “a toad from a shoe in a suitcase in Cardiff is definitely a first. We’ve had a couple of calls before when bananas have been imported little frogs have come across with those, but never these toads.”

Jackie also confirmed that Ozzy is a Common Asian Toad and isn’t venomous – something she was cautious of, even before showing up at Hannah’s house wearing gloves and with a quarantine area prepared.

She continued by saying that “he’s doing okay, he had a lot of food yesterday, a nice flush through of water, and some woodlice and bugs. We’re hoping Ozzy will be alright.”

“When they’re wild caught, they’ve got to come into a domestic household which they can find a bit strenuous, and they don’t always show that they’re ill. But he’s made the night, and he’s eaten. Toads are quite robust. He’s done well, bless him.”

Feature Image: Ella Brooks (Facebook)

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