Unboxing Chaos: Live Iguana Escapes Package Inside Memphis FedEx Store

MEMPHIS, TN — An ordinary package pickup took a wild turn at a Memphis FedEx location when a customer unboxed a live, large green iguana, sending a store employee running for safety in a chaotic scene captured on camera.

The incident unfolded when customer Roderick Duncan, known on Instagram as @chefp_, arrived at the retail store to retrieve what he believed was a standard parcel. Upon slicing open the cardboard box inside the facility, a sizable exotic reptile leaped from the packaging directly onto the counter. Viral footage of the encounter shows the startled FedEx worker immediately fleeing the counter area as the iguana scrambled across the workspace.

"I thought I was opening a regular delivery, but as soon as the tape came off, this massive lizard just jumped right at us," Duncan later shared on social media. "The worker didn’t waste a second getting out of there, and honestly, I couldn't blame them."

FedEx Policy and Animal Welfare Concerns

The bizarre event has raised serious questions regarding shipping safety and courier regulations. FedEx, which is headquartered in Memphis, maintains strict protocols governing the transportation of live animals. According to the company's official shipping guidelines, the transit of live animals is highly restricted and strictly prohibited for walk-in retail customers. Authorized shipments of live creatures—such as beneficial insects or specific agricultural livestock—require specialized business accounts, pre-approval, and climate-controlled, ventilated packaging.

Shipping an exotic reptile like an iguana via standard shipping methods violates these terms and presents severe risks to the animal's life. Animal welfare advocates warn that transporting cold-blooded reptiles in standard cardboard boxes can lead to fatal temperature fluctuations, suffocation, and extreme stress.

Investigation and Resolution

Following the incident, local animal control officers were dispatched to the retail location to safely secure the iguana. The reptile was reportedly unharmed and has since been transferred to a local wildlife rescue organization for proper care and evaluation.

FedEx has launched an internal investigation to trace the origin of the shipment and determine how the live animal bypassed initial sorting facility checks. In a brief statement, a company spokesperson emphasized their commitment to safety: "We are looking into the circumstances surrounding this shipment. The safety of our team members, customers, and the proper, humane handling of all shipments remain our absolute priorities."