Why Was a 6-Foot Iguana Sent Through FedEx? What Happened When Titan Jumped Out of the Box

A routine package pickup in Memphis turned into a chaotic reptile chase, when a 6-foot iguana named Titan suddenly jumped out of his shipping container and sprinted behind the counter at a FedEx location, startling employees and customers.

The July 17 incident is back in the spotlight after The Cool Down revisited the viral footage on Sept. 7.

Roderick Duncan had gone to collect Titan, his new pet iguana, after the reptile was shipped to Memphis overnight.

But when Duncan opened the package, Titan was far more active than expected and quickly escaped into the store.

The incident was caught on video and began spreading widely online several days later, with CNN and local news outlets featuring the footage.

Why was Titan shipped through FedEx?

FedEx permits the shipment of certain harmless, nonvenomous reptiles, but its rules require prior approval and specially tested packaging.

Live animals must also be shipped using an eligible overnight service.

FedEx says live-animal shipments require the shipper to work with a FedEx representative and have the packaging approved before shipping.

Duncan had obtained Titan from a breeder after losing a previous pet iguana earlier in the year, according to CNN’s reporting.

Titan was supposed to be sluggish but had other plans.

Duncan said he expected Titan to be relatively inactive after the overnight journey and chilled transport.

Instead, the enormous reptile burst from the container and raced into the store.

“I was expecting him to be stiff for a minute like most reptiles after shipping,” Duncan said in a post about the incident. “Nope. Titan came out ready for ALL the smoke.”

Duncan also told WMC that Titan was “way bigger” than he expected and that the sudden movement caught him off guard.

How did the FedEx workers catch Titan?

Once Titan escaped, employees scrambled as the iguana moved behind the counter.

Duncan and a worker eventually managed to contain him, using boxes to help limit where the reptile could move before getting him back under control.

The situation ended without reported injuries to Titan or the people inside the location.

Duncan later praised the employees for helping handle the unexpected escape.

“They handled it like champs,” Duncan said.

What FedEx’s rules actually say

FedEx’s current guidance says it accepts certain live animals, including harmless reptiles and amphibians, under specific conditions.

Shipments require prior approval, packaging testing and appropriate overnight service.

FedEx also states that live animals cannot be accepted at FedEx Office and other authorized ship locations; shipments must be tendered at a FedEx Ship Center or arranged for courier pickup.

The incident is widely described as occurring at a “FedEx store.”

The available reporting identifies the location as a Memphis FedEx location, but does not establish that it was a FedEx Office accepting the live-animal shipment.

The iguana was recaptured and taken home.