The unusual discovery of the animal, probably abandoned, occurred on Sunday in the pond of Prospect Park, Brooklyn’s great green lung, the New York parks and recreation services announced in a statement with photos.
The megalopolis’ forest guards pulled the 1.2-meter-long reptile out of the water “in a very poor condition and very lethargic,” according to the bulletin.
“Fortunately, no one was injured and the animal is under observation,” he added. He was sent to the Bronx Zoo, also in New York.
The service warned that “releasing animals in New York parks is illegal,” without naming whoever was responsible for the animal’s presence in Brooklyn.
The animal, accustomed to “warm and tropical climates,” likely suffered “thermal shock” in the cold water of the Prospect Park pond. It was 10 degrees on Sunday morning in New York.
“Parks are not suitable habitats for these types of animals, whether they are domestic or not.” This “can be dangerous for passers-by (…), make natural species disappear and alter the quality of the water.”
In June 2001, another reptile was found in New York, and the authorities and the media followed the capture of the alligator in Central Park for five days.
Forest rangers in New York receive about 500 complaints per year regarding animal health.
© 2023 AFP
