AFP
February 20, 2023
A four-foot-long alligator, shown in a photo provided by NYC Parks, is tended to by park officials and local rangers in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, hundreds of miles (km) north of its native habitat
A four-foot-long alligator, shown in a photo provided by NYC Parks, is tended to by park officials and local rangers in Prospect Park in the Brooklyn borough of New York City, hundreds of miles (km) north of its native habitat
New York (AFP) - A "very lethargic" alligator was captured in a New York park, city officials said Monday, likely released by its owner far away from the species' warmer habitat in the southeast United States.
The reptile was spotted Sunday morning in Prospect Park, a favorite place for Brooklyn residents to picnic and stroll with their pets, especially when winter temperatures are in the 50s Fahrenheit (10-15 Celsius) like over the holiday weekend.
Rangers captured the four-foot-long (1.2 meters) alligator, which was "found very lethargic and possibly cold shocked," New York City Parks said in a statement.
It added that such urban public spaces "are not suitable homes for animals not indigenous to those parks" and that their release, while illegal, could also "lead to the elimination of native species and unhealthy water quality."
The alligator was later transported to the Bronx Zoo for rehabilitation, the statement said, adding that "thankfully no one was harmed."
The last publicized discovery of an alligator in New York was in June 2001 when authorities, the press and curious residents spent five days following the pursuit and capture of a stray caiman in Central Park.
New York's Urban Park rangers respond to about 500 animal health reports a year.
Alligator found in lake in New York City park
EMILY SHAPIRO and WILL MCDUFFIE
Mon, February 20, 2023 at 8:28 AM MST·1 min read
A 4-foot-long alligator has been recovered from a lake at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, according to city officials.
Park maintenance staff noticed the gator Sunday morning, and when removed, the animal was "very lethargic and possibly cold shocked since it is native to warm, tropical climates," the parks department said.
MORE: Flaco the owl becomes New York attraction, as he settles into Central Park home
No one was hurt by the animal, New York City's Department of Parks and Recreation said in a statement.
The gator has been taken to the Bronx Zoo.
PHOTO: A four-foot-long alligator has been recovered from a lake in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York. (Courtesy of NYC Parks)
It's not clear how or when it ended up in the lake.
The parks department warned, "In addition to the potential danger to park goers this could have caused, releasing non-indigenous animals or unwanted pets can lead to the elimination of native species and unhealthy water quality."
Alligator found in lake in New York City park originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
EMILY SHAPIRO and WILL MCDUFFIE
Mon, February 20, 2023 at 8:28 AM MST·1 min read
A 4-foot-long alligator has been recovered from a lake at Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York, according to city officials.
Park maintenance staff noticed the gator Sunday morning, and when removed, the animal was "very lethargic and possibly cold shocked since it is native to warm, tropical climates," the parks department said.
MORE: Flaco the owl becomes New York attraction, as he settles into Central Park home
No one was hurt by the animal, New York City's Department of Parks and Recreation said in a statement.
The gator has been taken to the Bronx Zoo.
PHOTO: A four-foot-long alligator has been recovered from a lake in Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York. (Courtesy of NYC Parks)
It's not clear how or when it ended up in the lake.
The parks department warned, "In addition to the potential danger to park goers this could have caused, releasing non-indigenous animals or unwanted pets can lead to the elimination of native species and unhealthy water quality."
Alligator found in lake in New York City park originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
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