An alligator in South Carolina was found with a strange object on its head, and wildlife experts in Georgia were called in to help determine the cause.
The University of Georgia Coastal Ecology Laboratory posted on Facebook on Monday about the 11-foot-long alligator, named King Arthur.
The institute said it was recently contacted about a “dominant male alligator” wearing an unusual contraption at Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort on St. Helena Island, South Carolina.
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“After speaking with them and looking at the photos they sent us, it appears that this alligator somehow got a tomato cage stuck on its head,” the lab said.
The crocodile, nicknamed King Arthur, was found with an unknown object on its head. (UGA Coastal Ecology Laboratory, via Facebook)
Staff at the UGA Coastal Ecology Institute initially warned against any human intervention, as the animals sometimes free themselves after becoming trapped in objects.
“The first step in these situations is to carefully observe the animal to see if the object is affecting the animal’s normal behavior and if the animal is trying to break free.” explained the laboratory.
“In the case of this crocodile, we thought it might affect its ability to eat, but after two days we were able to break part of the cage and free its head. However, there was still a lot of damage to its neck. It was firmly attached.”
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The UGA Coastal Ecology Institute believes the alligator became entangled in the tomato cage while passing through the pipe. (UGA Coastal Ecology Laboratory, via Facebook)
A few days later, Georgia researchers decided to take matters into their own hands with the help of the resort’s chief naturalist.
“I didn’t think he would be able to get out of the cage on his own and there was something stuck in the cage so I was worried that if he couldn’t get out he would get caught on something in the water and drown,” the Facebook post said. has been written. . “For these reasons, we determined that human intervention is necessary.”
After traveling to the Palmetto State and capturing the reptile, experts were able to remove the tomato cage from its head. That proved difficult because the cage was in an area where crocodiles usually get trapped.
“However, after several attempts, we were able to capture and safely remove this 11-foot-2-inch male from the tomato cage,” the UGA Coastal Ecology Institute reported. “Now that he’s free, he can safely resume living his best alligator life.”
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King Arthur is now “living his best crocodile life” since his rescue, according to Georgia researchers. (UGA Coastal Ecology Laboratory, via Facebook)
It’s unclear how the crocodile got trapped in the metal object in the first place. The UGA Coastal Ecology Institute hypothesizes that the alligator rammed into the tomato cage while swimming through the pipe.
“This is a great example of why proper waste disposal is so important,” the institute said.
“This is just one of many examples of complications in animals caused by improperly disposed of waste.”
Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort thanked the wildlife experts who rescued the crocodile on Facebook, thanking them for “saving our beloved King Arthur.”
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Rescuers were eventually able to remove the tomato cage from the crocodile’s head. (UGA Coastal Ecology Laboratory, via Facebook)
Fox News Digital has reached out to the UGA Coastal Ecology Institute for comment.
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