Stowaway creatures on the rise in UK, expert warns

At least 200 creepy crawlies and some slitherers have accidentally made their way to the UK through parcels or luggage this year, according to an expert who rescues them.

Chris Newman, from the National Centre for Reptile Welfare (NCRW), told the BBC there seemed to be a “worrying” increase in cases, with three venomous scorpions appearing to have been shipped from China in the last month.

“We’ve had 200 stowaways this year. Twelve have been scorpions and three of those have been within the last month – the same species of scorpion from China,” he said.

It comes as a student from the University of Bristol discovered a live scorpion when she opened a clothing parcel from fast-fashion firm Shein, while a couple from Basingstoke told the BBC they were shocked to find a scorpion in a package ordered from Amazon last month.

Mr Newman said the apparent spike in cases reported to the charity has been concerning.

“In the scale of things, I’m sure there’s millions of packages coming in from China, but to have three in the last month is worrying,” he said.

However, he said it was important to see it in context, adding: “Overall, it’s a rare occurrence.”

Mr Newman described Chinese species of scorpion seen in Bristol, Olivierus martensii, as “medically significant” and “very venomous”.

They could be “life threatening”, particularly for those more vulnerable, he said, but “an average adult would just have a really bad day”.

Claire and Joe Branscombe bought a treadmill from a third-party seller on Amazon with a warehouse address in China.

“Our cat was very interested in a package that had been delivered to us, we hadn’t had a chance to open it yet,” Mrs Branscombe said.

“She was scratching at the corners, so we took a closer look and to our horror a live scorpion crawled out of the box.

“We were screaming: ‘What is this?’

“We went into total shock.”

They said scientists they contacted after making the find had identified it as an Olivierus martensii scorpion.

“It’s funny, you wouldn’t bat an eyelid if one ran across you in a hot climate, but in our living room in Hampshire, we thought it was an alien,” Mrs Branscombe added.

Terrified that there could be more scorpions inside, the couple put the treadmill out in the garden as they “didn’t know what else was going to be there”.

The next morning, Mr Branscombe – armed with insect spray, gloves and other garden tools – checked it over and found no further stowaways.

The couple said they complained to both the company and to Amazon.

The company told them it had never happened before and said it was reviewing CCTV, while Amazon apologised to them for the situation and offered a partial refund on behalf of the seller.

An Amazon spokeswoman apologised and said: “Thankfully this is an incredibly rare case and we have apologised, refunded the customer, and are investigating with the third-party seller.”

Mr Newman said the three scorpions he was aware of had come from different companies.

“So it’s not the same company, but it seems to be a problem that’s occurring from China,” he said.

He said 12 scorpions which had come to the UK had been reported to NCRW this year with “most coming back in people’s luggage”.

“One lady went to Mexico and brought one back in her shoe by accident. It was a very dangerous scorpion too,” he said.

“It’s quite surprising what does actually come back. We’ve had a total of 127 different species of animals come back as stowaways.”

The centre has seen everything from a European tree frog in a home furnishings store, to a venomous spider in a case of Australian wine.

If someone finds a reptile or other exotic creature in their package or luggage, Mr Newman said “the most important thing to do is try not to touch it by hand”.

Instead, he advises people to get a glass or Tupperware to contain it. Then give them a call.

“Earlier this week, we’ve had a hermit crab that came back from Malta in a shell,” he said.

“We get lizards, scorpions, snakes, toads, frogs. We get all sorts of things come in.

“Quite often people would let them go, which is the worst thing you could do. Technically its illegal to release a non-native species in this country.”

On the scorpion found in Bristol, Mr Newman said: “They are not particularly aggressive but they will defend themselves if they feel threatened.

“And the poor little chaps just come all the way from China in a parcel so he’s been banged about so he’s probably not in the greatest mood if I’m honest.

“We are seeing more scorpions this year, from all over the world.

“If you find something in a parcel. Try to secure it, but work on the premise it could be harmful. Give us a call and we’ll give you advice on what to do from there and we’ll come to collect it.”

The centre’s emergency service operates 24/7 all year round and has 100 drop-off points across the UK. Alternatively, if it is a dangerous species, a collection service is offered.

Once the animal has been established, it is found a new home.

“Some will stay with us for education purposes, but mostly we find them new homes,” Mr Newman said.

“Those that are rare or endangered would go to zoos and institutions, others will go to private keepers.”

The service has seen a spike in the past month but this may be down to more people becoming aware of it after they signposted it on their website.

Mr Newman said he still thought “very few people find us”, adding: “I suspect we are just seeing the tip of the iceberg.”

It is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to release any creature not normally resident in Great Britain into the wild. The UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology can be contacted if people find a creature they suspect is non-native.