A giant alligator has been safely relocated to a Florida sanctuary after appearing twice on a military base.
The giant 12-foot-4-inch alligator first wandered onto MacDill Air Force Base grounds in late April and took shelter under the wheels of a plane.
Two Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission employees were seen wrapping rope around the alligator’s body, tail and mouth and releasing it into the Hillsboro River, just a few miles north of the Air Force base.
But wetlands didn’t seem to be to this reptile’s liking, and he returned to MacDill after just three weeks.
This time, the “Airman Alley Gator” was left to dry on the sidewalk near the camp’s medical group.
“Airman Gator is in charge of MacDill’s complaints department and is ready to make an appointment below. Please indicate below the date and time you would like to register your complaint.” the military branch joked on social media.
The alligator was recaptured, but this time FWC officials chose to take the scaly beast about 255 miles away to Gatorama and Crocodile Adventures, an alligator farm in Palmdale.
According to the Air Force, the alligator has “already made several friends in his new home.”
“They renamed him ‘MacDill’ in honor of his origins,” the military said on social media.
Gatorama has placed “Major MacDill” in its breeding and exhibition ponds, but it’s unclear whether the giant beast will become part of the facility’s alligator show.
Crocodile courtship begins in early April, and mating begins in May or June.
“Isn’t he beautiful? 12’4″. We hate to see this big old bull alligator killed. The story they tell of how he survived this long must be amazing,” Wanien said.
