A nearly 5-foot alligator found in a lake in Brooklyn's Prospect Park had swallowed a bathtub stopper.
The American alligator was recovered on Sunday. It underwent a medical evaluation and is now being cared for at the Bronx Zoo.
It was lethargic and suffering from exposure to cold temperatures when it was found. It was also extremely emaciated. Too weak and unresponsive to eat on its own, the alligator, a female, was being tube-fed to provide her with nutrients as well as fluids, vitamin B, antibiotics, and antifungal medication.An alligator found in a Brooklyn lake had swallowed a bathtub stopper.
"The alligator is currently in too weakened a condition to attempt removal of the stopper. We will continue to provide supportive care for her and determine next steps based on how she responds to treatment," zoo officials said in a statement. It is illegal to have an alligator in New York, but it is not uncommon for people to buy young alligators and then abandon them.
"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," the zoo stated.An alligator was found in a chilly New York City lake on Sunday, far from the subtropical and tropical climates where such creatures thrive.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
What Item Was Found Inside Prospect Park Alligator, and Why it Can't Yet Be RemovedThe nearly five-foot gator is undergoing treatment at the Bronx Zoo after it was spotted inside Prospect Park on Sunday. The alligator is still too weak and unresponsive to eat on its own, the zoo said, so it is being tube-fed, and was found to have ingested a sizable item
Read more »
Alligator pulled from Prospect Park lake undergoing treatmentZoo officials say the female alligator ingested a bathtub stopper and is too weak at this time to attempt removal.
Read more »
Bathtub stopper found in stomach of 4-foot long alligator dumped in BrooklynRadiographs showed that the alligator had ingested a bathtub stopper about 4 inches wide.
Read more »
'Lethargic' Alligator Rescued From Brooklyn LakeCity officials said the abandoned gator was likely dumped as an unwanted pet.
Read more »
A 4-Foot-Long Alligator Was Found in a New York Park Suffering 'Cold Shock'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.
Read more »