Photo: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
A "pet" alligator was recovered after it was found to be illegally living in a Texas woman's backyard for over 20 years.
The nearly 8-foot gator was discovered at a home south of Austin over the weekend while Texas Parks and Wildlife were investigating a separate case in Buda, MySanAntonio reports. They wound up coming across the alligator in the woman's backyard.
Investigators said the woman was a volunteer at Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo in New Braunfels and reportedly stole an alligator egg 20 years ago. She brought it home in her pocket and has kept it as a pet ever since, despite not having the proper permits to keep it, the news outlet reported. The gator was returned back to the zoo after Texas game wardens helped remove it from the Caldwell County home. The zoo, who named her Tewa, shared a video on Facebook with footage of the gator being brought back to zoo grounds, swimming in a pond and socializing with visitors and other animals.
"Out of concern for the animal she put it in her pocket took it home and finished hatching it out of the egg and has really had it, really happy and healthy ever since," said Jarrod Fortham, Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo director. Officials noted the woman took good care of the alligator, but it was too big for the space the woman provided to the over-7-foot animal. "Alligators don’t make good pets, y’all 🐊," Texas Parks and Wildlife wrote on Instagram, alongside a video of the alligator being removed from the woman's home.
The woman is facing two Class C citations, one for possession of an alligator egg and another for possession of an alligator without appropriate permits.