Beloved gecko Pickle leaves her legacy

Some stories at City of Portsmouth College are surprisingly bittersweet – and the latest news from our Animal Management Centre is certainly that.

We’re sad to report the passing of one of our most popular animals, Pickle the gecko, following health complications during gestation of eggs. Pickle was a much-loved member of the College menagerie, as she was happy to be handled and pose for study.

But she’s left a small legacy behind.

Despite her health issues, she managed to lay an egg and to the surprise of College staff, it hatched. Little Pickle (their current name) was born last week, and while they’re very small and in need of specialist care, they’re doing well.

Pete Quinlan, Animal Care Technician, said: “It was really sad when we lost Pickle, she was fantastic with the students and they all loved her. But we were really shocked when Little Pickle emerged. We’re not sure whether they’re a boy or a girl yet but once we know perhaps we’ll come up with a new name!”

This is the third time this year that students have had the opportunity to rear babies – from Ronaldo’s brood of baby snakes and the arrival of a trio of Serama chicks, to Little Pickle, they’ve had some fantastic opportunities for additional learning.