Monza woman rescues protected emerald toad found in supermarket lettuce

A woman in Monza discovered a live Bufotes balearicus, a protected emerald toad, inside a bag of lettuce purchased at a local supermarket. Noticing the amphibian before eating the salad, she carefully collected it using cardboard, placed it in a plastic container with a thin water layer, and reported the incident to the regional ENPA and the Guardie Ecologiche Volontarie (Gev).

ENPA volunteers retrieved the toad from the woman's home, identified it as a young Bufotes balearicus, and transferred it to the ENPA park canile in Monza. The toad was then released into the pond of the park’s Biodiversity Oasis, a suitable habitat for the protected species. The woman also informed the supermarket where she bought the lettuce.

The incident highlights the presence of protected wildlife in the food supply chain and the role of local environmental volunteers in rescuing and re‑homing such animals.