After 30 years, I kinda say let him have it. He obviously has a suitable habitat and the knowledge to handle the animal.
And had a proper license for it until recent changes to regulations around it's enclosure. This isn't just some guy that did it on a whim, he put time, effort, and money to do it legally for so long.
I'm not so sure. I think alligators need UVB for their spines, and there was no mention in the article (aside from a mention that the vet found spinal malformations). That and the lack of bones/organ meat was a red flag for me.
They can survive a long time with improper care. Snake Discovery's alligator previously lived in a wooden box too small to turn around in for 27 years.
ETA: he does obviously love the animal though. I would hope he had first been given education on anything that he was doing incorrectly before they took away his pet. And of course letting people swim with the alligator is probably not ideal, no matter how much he might trust it, it's still technically a wild animal.
Aren't New York's alligators supposed to be living in the sewers of the Big Apple?
Yeah, but this is an upstate alligator. So a whole different species.
I didn't realize "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile" was based on a true story".
Used to have a copy of this signed by the illustrator iirc 🤔
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