3-Foot Alligator Abandoned in New Jersey, Found in Storage Container Below-Freezing Temperature

The officials on animal control are looking for ways to track the individual who abandoned an alligator in a plastic container.

Abandoned Alligator Found in New Jersey

A 3 feet alligator was found in a small town in Neptune, New Jersey, Sunday night. The reptile was placed in a plastic container left open in an empty lot at below-freezing temperatures, according to the Monmouth County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MCSPCA), Fox News reported.

MCSPCA executive director Ross Licitra also slammed the person who abandoned the alligator in such an environment, calling it "cruelty," in an interview with News12.

Licitra said whoever abandoned the alligator just took it, placed it in the container, and left it outside to die. She believed it wasn't an accident.

Several netizens also echoed Licra's sentiment. They called the person who abandoned the poor reptile "irresponsible." One discouraged dumping animals on the road if they can't handle it anymore, according to New York Post.

The MCSPCA was notified about the abandoned alligator after a "good Samaritan" named Angel Rosario called law enforcement. He saw the abandoned container next to his home.

MCSPCA officials were dispatched, and they located the container on Bangs Avenue, a street in the northeastern Neptune Township region.

The alligator was rescued and would be moved to the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife soon. However, the organization seemingly changed its mind.

In an update on social media Tuesday, MCSPCA said they decided to take the alligator to the Cape May County Park & Zoo in Cape May Court House, New Jersey.

Keeping Alligators is Illegal in New Jersey

Licitra reminded the New Jersey residents that keeping alligator caimans in the state is illegal. According to her, alligators are considered dangerous exotic species. They are not only a danger to the public but also need specific care when kept in captivity that only professionals can provide.

American Alligators

American alligators can grow up to 15 feet and weigh as much as 1,000 pounds for males. However, the average male alligator weighs between 500 and 600 pounds. Females tend to be smaller.

They once faced extinction, so the United States Fish and Wildlife Service placed them on the endangered species list in 1967, according to National Geographic. The efforts of saving them through legal protection worked. Twenty years later, American alligators were no longer under threat of extinction. However, their main threat is habitat destruction due to human activities, including draining and developing wetlands.

American alligators live in the wild in the southeastern United States. They are abundant in Florida and Louisiana, where they can be seen in rivers, lakes, ponds, swamps, and marshes.

Although they are clumsy on land, they are great swimmers. They have webbed feet and strong tails to propel them through the water.

Check out more news and information on Alligators in Science Times.