A recent visitor to the Jurong Bird Park (JBP) was shocked to find a dead lizard inside a vending machine, and has since taken to Facebook to air her grievances.

The woman, Jennie Joohong Min, was particularly concerned as the canned drink she paid for might have touched the dead creature, and her daughter had unknowingly drank from it after.

Carcass inside vending machine

Min shared that she had visited the park on July 22 with her 10-year-old daughter .

After purchasing a canned drink from the vending machine and retrieving it from the pick-up slot, Min noticed "something black and grey" around the rim of the can.

While taking a closer look at the interior of the pick-up slot in the vending machine, she noticed what appeared to be the carcass of an animal.

Despite taking away the canned drink from her daughter immediately after, Min said that the girl had already drank a few sips.

She added in her post that she was "really upset", as the can was possibly "contaminated" when it was dispensed and touched the dead animal.

Claimed staff said it was no big deal

Min subsequently headed back to the entrance of the park to lodge a complaint with the staff.

Although she was recompensed with a free ticket to JBP, she claimed that staff told her in a follow-up call the next day that the incident "wasn't really a big deal" as the can was not open when it touched the dead animal.

Dissatisfied with their response, Min said that she did not want to visit the park again and did not need a free ticket.

Speaking to Mothership, she shared that this was because she already has an annual pass and had visited the park multiple times.

She also asked for a refund for the ticket she had previously paid for. However, her request was apparently rejected.

Min stressed that hygiene and public safety was of the utmost importance, especially for young children like her daughter, and urged JBP to pay greater attention to the cleanliness of its park.

"It's ridiculous how the park is not being managed like this, and it's a shame. My daughter is still ok, but she is still shocked that she might have eaten dead body debris."

She clarified that her intent for making the complaint and posting about it on Facebook was not to get a free ticket, but "as a parent of a child, I thought it wasn't right [that this] happened".

Thankfully, her daughter did not experience any health problems after the incident. Although with the "trauma" of seeing the dead carcass, she would likely not be heading back to JBP anytime soon, Min added.

Matter has been amicably resolved

Min told Mothership that following the staff's email to offer her a free ticket, she did not reply.

Mothership understands that Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) has been corresponding with the guest.

The incident was reported on July 23, and WRS’ guest relations team contacted her within the day to apologise for the experience.

WRS has since worked with its vendor on maintenance and a clean-up. Mothership understands that WRS considers the matter amicably resolved.

Top photo from Jennie Joohong Min / FB