The new four-legged celebrity in Florida-A giant alligator named Larry!
A giant alligator named Larry has become a local celebrity in Florida. He is seen roaming around the area and park and people are not scared of him. The leisurely-living Villages Retirement Community of Florida now boasts of this alligator as its best friend.
Larry and his presence in Florida
Larry is the name people have given to the giant alligator which has made its way into the lake of a golf course there.
He is usually in the water but when he is bored, he comes to the center of the park much to the amusement of the people around.
They are fascinated by this creature and find it thrilling when he comes out of the water to ‘meet them’.
Larry can halt the traffic on the road. Last week, he had come out of the lake and was strutting across the golf course path and the traffic in both directions had stopped at that time. It was a sight to be watched!
What do the people say about Larry, the giant alligator?
Of course, people have mixed feelings about the alligator which has made the human settlement his home now. They are surprised, excited as well as scared by his presence there.
But over time, their fear has diminished and they are happy to have him with them. Marc Scher, one of the spectators said:
“I was first scared out of my pants because he was so large. I mean, it was like looking at a prehistoric monster. And I had one foot on my accelerator on my golf cart in case he made a move.”
Larry has become a well-known creature in the area. People very often stop their vehicles and stare at him.
Larry has his plaque now with his name on it. He also has his social media in the form of a Facebook page. On the Facebook page, he is listed as a public figure.
Though people are happy to have him with them, they are also aware of their limitations and rules surrounding his presence there. They do not feed him.
Children and pets are kept away from him. And the people themselves maintain their distance from this giant creature.
Another alligator in Georgia!
There was another alligator that was recently sighted in Georgia.
It was noticed by three people and a farmer later notified to the Department of Natural Resources or DNR who later euthanized it since it was in a poor condition with injuries and previous gunshot wounds.
He was found in an irrigation ditch where he had been for almost a week.
Brent Howze, a wildlife biologist from Georgia DNR said:
“These animals exist. They’ve been here for centuries. They’ve been existing with people for centuries and they’re gonna continue to.”
The department estimated that he might have been around 50 years old and was 13 feet long and his weight was around 700 to 750 pounds. Brent revealed:
“As far as alligators just attacking people, it’s extremely rare.”
Hunting alligators is legal in Georgia but requires a permit to do so. The season is from 17 August to 8 October.
Source: WESH, NBC2 News, Nexstar
