Alligator euthanized after being found swimming with knife embedded in head in Florida pond
Residents of the Florida city of Deltona were left terrified after a gigantic alligator was spotted swimming in a pool with a large knife sticking out of its head.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) claimed they urgently launched an investigation into the incident after multiple reports of alligator sightings, according to Orlando news station WESH. As per the reports, the alligator was spotted swimming in a pond in Deltona, located northeast of Orlando, by several passersby.
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A team of Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers was immediately dispatched over the weekend to capture the alligator. The team then euthanized the animal that had suffered vital injuries on its body. However, the person responsible for the horrific act is still unidentified.
As per Florida state laws, killing or injuring an alligator is strictly prohibited unless authorized by the FWC commission, or as part of the Statewide Alligator Harvest Program. Killing an alligator is a third-degree felony in the state and can lead to a 5-year prison sentence or a humungous fine.
A similar incident was reported in Texas in June 2019, when an alligator was spotted in Pumpkin Lake in Sugar Land with a steak knife sticking from its head. At the time, a park official claimed that they were optimistic the alligator was not in pain. A search was conducted in the pool to find the animal but it was not found as of June 20 that year.
"I'm not a fan of gators but people are much scarier," wrote one social media user in the Facebook comment section of a WKMG news report on the injured animal in Florida.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, it is common to witness alligator-human interactions in the state. Commonly termed the Alligator State, Florida is estimated to have an alligator population of about 1.3 million. Recently, a man playing golf in Naples, Florida was seen continuing to do so even as an alligator approached from behind.
The FWC has repeatedly informed the residents that those “concerned about an alligator should call FWC's Nuisance Alligator Hotline on 866-392-4286.”
"Remember, never feed an alligator and keep your distance if you see one," it adds on its website. "Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours. And keep pets on a leash and away from the water."
