Alligator pulled from lake may have been kept as a pet and swallowed bath plug

27 February 2023 , 15:08

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The item found suggested the animal was kept as a pet in the tub (Image: NBC)

An American alligator pulled from a lake may have been kept as a pet was found to have ingested a 4-inch wide bathtub plug.

Vets at the Bronx Zoo are treating the nearly five-foot animal that was brought to them from Prospect Park on February 19 by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.

They said it is undergoing medical evaluation, but the condition of the female reptile is too weakened to attempt and remove the stopper.

When it arrived at the zoo, the alligator was extremely emaciated, according to animal care staff. She was lethargic and suffering from exposure to cold temperatures.

Veterinarians helped to slowly warm her to an appropriate ambient temperature and offered her supportive care.

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The emaciated, lethargic alligator discovered in New York City's Prospect Park Lake (WCS)

They said she was too weak and unresponsive to eat on her own, so they made sure she is tube-fed to provide her with nutrients as well as fluids, Vitamin B, antibiotics and antifungal medication.

When it entered the staff's care, the alligator was extremely emaciated weighing only 15 pounds, while an alligator of this size should typically weigh between 30-35 pounds.

Radiographs of the alligator, which is estimated to be between 5 and 6 years of age, show that she had ingested an approximately 4-inch wide bathtub stopper, suggesting it had been kept in a bathtub.

The item found suggested the animal was kept as a pet in the tub (NBC)

In a statement, the zoo said: "We will continue to provide supportive care for her and determine the next steps based on how she responds to treatment.

"The tragedy of this situation is a reminder that wild animals do not make good pets and that responsible pet ownership means making choices that will not negatively impact an individual animal or the environment."

It’s illegal to keep alligators as pets in New York City, according to the city’s website. Although the animals are abundant in southern states including Florida and Georgia, they are not native to New York.

It’s unclear how long the gator was in the lake or how she came to be in New York.

Vassia Barba