A Cuban native from Pinar del Río and currently residing in Tampa, Florida, became the center of attention on social media after showing a huge toad on Instagram that she found in the garden of her property, known as Finca la Luz.
Marbely Pentón González and her partner Jorge Rodríguez —known on social media as @jorgeelbomberofitness— posted the reel titled "Hello Frog" and within a few hours gathered hundreds of comments ranging from sheer horror to endearment.
In the video, Marbely holds the animal in front of the camera with a calmness that made more than one person's heart race, while inviting viewers to appreciate its enormous size.
"Look at what he caught, the size of that toad. Give it a little kiss and see if it turns into a prince," says Jorge, laughing.
The couple decided to release the animal in the garden with a compelling argument. “The toad eats the mosquitoes; those are our pets,” explained the content creators. At Finca la Luz, there are also koi fish, frogs, turtles, “and a little bit of everything.”
The followers reacted with an explosive mix of emotions. “I have a racing heart just seeing you, you’re so amazing, you’re not afraid of any animal,” someone wrote to Marbely.
Another one confessed, "I had a heart attack when I saw that," because many people are afraid of frogs and toads, even though they are usually harmless. In that sense, the comment that made everyone laugh the most was: "No mom, I'm about to send the video."
The animal that Marbely held so naturally is very likely a cane toad (Rhinella marina), an invasive species that has been widely established in Florida since the mid-20th century.
Adults of this species can measure between 15 and 24 centimeters, and although they do not pose a danger to humans unless ingested, their glands secrete toxins that can be fatal to dogs and cats within minutes.
Marbely regularly shares her life at Finca la Luz on social media, where encounters with the local wildlife in Tampa are part of the daily routine, and the prince toad can appear at any moment.
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