A massive alligator has been safely moved to a Florida sanctuary after showing up twice at a military base.
The imposing 12-foot, 4-inch alligator first wandered onto the grounds of MacDill Air Force Base in late April, taking shelter under the wheels of an airplane.
Two Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers were seen placing ropes around the body, tail and mouth of an alligator before releasing it into the Hillsborough River, located a few miles north of the air base.
The wetlands did not seem to please the reptile, however, and he returned to MacDill three weeks later.
This time, “Airman Ally Gator” dried on the sidewalk near the camp’s Med group.
“Airman Gator will be in charge of the MacDill complaints department and is ready to make an appointment below. Please indicate below the date and time you would like to register your complaint,” the military branch joked on social media.
The alligator was recaptured, but this time FWC officials chose to bring the scaly beast to Gatorama and Crocodile Adventures in Palmdale, an alligator farm about 155 miles away.
According to the Air Force, the alligator has “already made friends in its new home.”
“They renamed him “MacDill” to pay homage to his origins,” the army said on social media.
Gatorama has placed “Major MacDill” in its breeding and exhibition ponds, although it is unclear whether the massive beast will be part of the facility’s alligator exhibits.
Alligator courtship begins in early April, and mating begins in May or June.
“Isn’t he beautiful?” 12’4″. We hate to see these big old bull alligators killed. The stories they tell must be amazing about how he survived to this length,” the alligator farm said.
New York Post
