An alligator was captured near a pond in Prospect Park, Brooklyn, New York. The four-foot-long animal was found “very lethargic and possibly in cold shock,” the New York City government said on Monday.
The alligator was later taken to the Bronx Zoo, “luckily no one was hurt”.
The animal was seen in Prospect Park on Sunday morning after it was believed to have been abandoned by its owner.
The park is a popular spot for Brooklynites to picnic and walk their pets.
The city also said that such urban public spaces “are not suitable homes for animals that are not native to these parks”.
Not only is the release illegal, but it can also lead to the extinction of native species and poor water quality.