Toxic Centipede In Bristol

A giant venomous centipede found in a woman’s luggage was sent to Bristol Zoo.

12:32 15 June 2015

An 11cm-long toxic centipede has made its way to Jennie Esler’s suitcase as the she returned from a holiday in Antigua. The Peruvian giant centipede is one of the largest of its kind and is toxic to humans. 

 

Making sense on how the centipede, now named Curtley got into herLuggage, she said: "I have no idea when he actually got in there, but I packed it up to leave on the Saturday morning, popped to the beach for a bit and then made our way up to the airport," said Ms Esler.

 

"We arrived home after an eight-hour flight at 9am on Sunday and went straight to sleep.

 

"By this point Curtley must have been in the bag for at least 20 hours but I didn't unpack that bag for another 24 hours."

Ms Esler finally found the centipede as she unpacked her bags. 

 

"At first I thought I was seeing things and then I peered inside and saw nothing but legs against the black fabric of the bag," she said.

 

"He didn't actually run out, he was quite shy. I had to tip him out of the bag into the bathroom sink, as I didn't really know what he was at this point."

 

She then called the RSPCA who told her to get in touch with Bristol Zoo.