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FREDERICTON - Buddha the tree frog is back where she belongs.

The amphibian - whose disappearance from her terrarium at Science East last week made national headlines - was found Wednesday morning.

A staff member spotted Buddha perched on a purse inside the science centre shortly after it opened Wednesday.

"We're just incredibly happy she's back here," said Karla Gimby, director of communications for Science East.

The incident has generated plenty of interest in the 10-centimetre White's tree frog, a species native to Australia, Papua New Guinea and parts of Indonesia.

Staff members first noticed the frog was missing Friday morning. Her whereabouts over the past five days is anyone's guess.

"Maybe someone let her out, she got away and the person was too embarrassed to tell us. Maybe someone brought her back. We just don't know," Gimby said.

What is clear, she said, is that an adult took her out of the cage and that it wasn't a staff member.

People were jubilant about Buddha's return to Science East.

"It's awesome to see her back home," 11-year-old Morgan Payne said as she watched Buddha clinging to a branch in her enclosure.

"It was kind of scary for everyone here. She can't live in the climate outside."

Yvette Fabro was delighted to see the frog has been returned.

"I was really feeling bad about it being lost," said Fabro, who was picking up her grandchildren from day camp.

Theories abound about where Buddha went and the adventures she embarked on.

Some kids think she ran rampant with a northside cow that's been on the loose for more than a month. Others wondered if she met up with other exotic animals that have gone missing lately.

"One thing's for sure. While she was gone the crickets were noisier - they were happier," said Michael Edwards, director of programming at the centre.

Buddha - whose colour usually ranges from dark green to blue green - had turned a shade of brown by the time she was found, Gimby said.

Staff sprayed her lightly with water to help her regain a dark-green complexion, she said.

Buddha's home is being modified so only staff members will be able to take her out.

"Although we wish someone had never taken her out of her cage, we are just happy that she is back to reclaim her position as one of Science East's most beloved exhibits," Science East educator Heather Grant.

The incident has generated plenty of interest in the 10-centimetre frog.

"After all the coverage Buddha's disappearance has received, we think a lot of people are going to want to come and see our famous tree frog for themselves."

If Buddha the tree frog was in search of companionship, her wait is almost over.

Science East employees travelled to Saint John on Wednesday to take possession of a stowaway tree frog recently found in a container unloaded at the Port of Saint John.

The new frog, whose species is unknown, was found in a container from a ship that last visited the Virgin Islands in the Caribbean.

The frog will be quarantined from Buddha for the time being in case it's carrying any disease or parasite.