Lorraine Dempsey from Wicklow in Ireland had been on holiday in Kenya for two weeks and left her suitcase in a corner when she returned home at the end of January. But when she lifted it up 12 days later, she saw something moving under it – something that looked like a small scorpion. – It darted away, and I stood there barefoot in a nightgown. I actually laughed, but mixed with a lot of fear. I realized that I couldn’t just run out, but I had to know where it was, Dempsey tells the local radio program “The KCLR Daily”. A scorpion named Kenny – I named it Kenny. It was enough for my own mental health, to quell the anxiety. I didn’t know if it was dangerous or just extra trouble, she continues. SAFE: According to the reptile park manager, Kenny is very safe, and secured, along with other poisonous species. Photo: Screenshot from Facebook video / National Reptile Zoo After looking for the scorpion without success, Lorraine called around to find out what to do with the uninvited guest. She had both her 8-year-old son and two dogs in the house. Eventually she got hold of James Hennessy, manager of The National Reptile Zoo in Kilkenny. He confirmed that she needed to locate the poisonous arachnid. Dempsey called in friends with gloves and boots, and began seaming the residence and bedroom. – Can be fatal for children After an hour and a half, and having dismantled the bed, they found a two centimeter long scorpion of the type Hennessy calls “Fisher’s Fat Tailed Scorpion”. Dempsey writes on Facebook that it has been identified as Uroplectes fischeri, in the Buthidae family. – The poison can be fatal for children. Fortunately, I hadn’t had time to unpack the entire suitcase, otherwise I could have gotten a pretty nasty sting. Sometimes it pays to be a little lazy, says a laughing Lorraine to the radio channel. Have you found unexpected critters in your luggage after your holiday? No Yes I thought I saw something, but not sure what Show result The name Kenny came naturally since the scorpion came from Kenya, and now it lives in Kilkenny reptile park. There, Hennessy makes sure that it gets the right care in the department for poisonous insects. – When it was caught and delivered to me, we were able to identify it. It is so toxic that it can affect the ability to breathe, he tells The Irish Times. Dempsey assures that she went through all the clothes and shoes before packing in Kenya, but that she forgot to check the suitcase itself. As a result, an extra passenger was brought home from the trip. – It’s not common, but it’s not unusual either. It is mostly geckos and we actually get quite a few scorpions. Rarely frogs and sometimes snakes, says the reptile park manager to the RTÉ program “Morning Ireland”.
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Scorpion found in luggage after 12 days – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
