An unusual discovery concluded the vacation of a Polish family at Lake Garda in Italy. Upon returning to Warsaw and starting to unpack their luggage, the vacationers saw that a small lizard was hiding among their belongings in one of the suitcases. As it turned out, the Mediterranean gecko likely climbed into the suitcase back in Italy and traveled unnoticed all the way to Poland. Information about the 'couple' turned out to be inaccurate: Polish sources report a family of four. The incident occurred on Saturday, August 29, 2026, and a report about it was received by the Warsaw city guard after 2:00 PM from Modzelewskiego Street. ## Out of fear, the gecko dropped its tail When several family members leaned over the open suitcase, the frightened lizard dropped its tail. This behavior is called autotomy and serves as a natural defense mechanism: the detached tail distracts the predator and gives the animal a chance to escape. However, this time the gecko was unable to flee. The suitcase's owner carefully covered it with a container and then contacted the city services. Before the specialists arrived, she placed the animal in a prepared jar with sand and air holes. Employees of the specialized unit Ekopatrol, which deals with animals, responded to the call. They determined that they were dealing with a Mediterranean gecko—a small lizard widely distributed, including in Italy. The specialists explained that this species poses no danger to humans. When threatened, geckos usually try to escape and find a dark, quiet hiding place. Probably, the suitcase became such a refuge for the little lizard. ## The traveler was handed over to specialists The gecko was taken by Ekopatrol employees and handed over to the care of specialists at the CITES Center at the Warsaw Zoo. There, the animal will be able to recover after its long journey and the stress it experienced. The unusual case ended well thanks to the cautious actions of the suitcase's owner. The story also serves as a reminder that after returning from warm countries, it is advisable to unpack luggage carefully: among the clothes, a live 'passenger' may accidentally be hiding, who will need the help of specialists.