An alligator was spotted at this Florida park. Something about it was ‘disturbing’
A concerned citizen spotted an unusual-looking alligator late last month on a canoe launch at Wilson’s Landing Park in Sanford, Florida, about 20 miles north of Orlando.
The small reptile had no top jaw.
Eustacia Kanter told Fox 35 Orlando she snapped the picture of the disfigured creature, whose snout is almost cleanly torn off, and tongue completely exposed.
“At first, my brain couldn’t comprehend that its entire upper jaw was missing,” Kanter told the outlet. “When I realized, I felt terrible for him.”
After environmentalist Katrina Shadix received the photo, she shared it on Facebook looking to get the gator some medical assistance. The animal’s predicament soon went viral.
“Is anyone in the area that can HELP this poor alligator?” wrote Shadix, who is the executive director of Bear Warriors United, a nonprofit whose mission is to protect bears and other Florida wildlife. She said that it’s still unknown what caused the mutilating injury, but believes the alligator may have ripped its own jaw escaping from a poacher’s snare, intended to trap coyotes.
Comments flooded in from concerned folks wondering how the alligator could find food and survive in the wild.
“So if he’s unable to be caught is there any idea of his ability to survive like that?” wrote one. “I mean he can’t defend himself for sure except with his tail. Poor little dude!”
“This is so disturbing ... can this gator eat?” asked another.
“Horrific!!!!! For God’s sake!”
Now, there’s an update: The alligator, a female, was rescued Thursday night. Shadix reports on social media that a few nuisance trappers were able to locate it and take it to Gatorland in Orlando.
“Our dedicated team will give her lots of loving care to live out her life in Alligator Paradise,” says the park’s post on Facebook regarding the newest resident.
This story was originally published September 15, 2023 at 11:50 AM.
