An alligator which is believed to have been stolen from a zoo 20 years in the past has lastly been returned.
Tewa, the two.5 metre gator, was possible taken whereas nonetheless in an egg, officers say.
A volunteer at Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo in Texas was thought to have swiped her.
The gator was discovered many years later at a close-by residence in Austin by the state’s Recreation Warden on Friday.
It was returned to its ‘rightful owner’ – the zoo – on Monday.
The wardens reminded the general public: ‘Alligators don’t make good pets, y’all.’
A zoo worker stated: ‘There’s proof the thief was a volunteer right here really at Animal World & Snake Farm many years in the past.
‘They apparently stole this alligator, both the egg or the hatchling alligator and put it of their pocket and took off.
‘They actually kept this thing as a pet for at least 20 years now.’
![Story from Jam Press (Stolen Alligator) Pictured: A video grab of a stolen alligator being returned to the zoo after being stolen 20 years ago. Alligator ???stolen from zoo 20 YEARS ago??? found in person???s garden An alligator, believed to have been stolen from a zoo two decades ago, has been returned after it was found living in someone???s garden. The creature was reportedly taken from a Texas zoo 20 years ago when it was either an egg or hatchling. The eight-foot gator, named Tewa, is believed to have been stolen by a volunteer at the Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo in New Braunfels, according to officials. It was found near Austin on Friday (3 March) and returned to the zoo yesterday (6 March). The animal was reportedly kept in a garden around 50 miles from the zoo. The homeowner did not have the necessary permits to keep it, so the animal was confiscated and was issued with two citations. The zoo shared a video of Tewa being introduced back to the other alligators, where she will have her ???forever home???. In the video, an employee explains they received a call from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department about the alligator. He says: ???Interesting part of the story is evidence they were a volunteer here actually at Animal World & Snake Farm way back then, decades ago, and apparently stole this alligator, either the egg or the hatchling alligator and put it in their pocket and took off. ???[They] actually kept this thing as a pet for at least 20 years now.??? He explains the park is the ???rightful owner??? and says the alligator will ???live out the rest of her life??? there. ENDS EDITOR???S NOTE: Usage Licence: (SOCIAL??AND??LOCAL??MEDIA) We have obtained this material from a verified account on??social??media platforms and it has been widely used in??local??news media on a similar report without problems. Usage Restrictions: Jam Press accepts all responsibility for use on news media portals only, usage on??social??media platforms like Facebo](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SEI_147230275-97b2-e1678210077293.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=520)
![Story from Jam Press (Stolen Alligator) Pictured: A video grab of a stolen alligator being returned to the zoo after being stolen 20 years ago. Alligator ???stolen from zoo 20 YEARS ago??? found in person???s garden An alligator, believed to have been stolen from a zoo two decades ago, has been returned after it was found living in someone???s garden. The creature was reportedly taken from a Texas zoo 20 years ago when it was either an egg or hatchling. The eight-foot gator, named Tewa, is believed to have been stolen by a volunteer at the Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo in New Braunfels, according to officials. It was found near Austin on Friday (3 March) and returned to the zoo yesterday (6 March). The animal was reportedly kept in a garden around 50 miles from the zoo. The homeowner did not have the necessary permits to keep it, so the animal was confiscated and was issued with two citations. The zoo shared a video of Tewa being introduced back to the other alligators, where she will have her ???forever home???. In the video, an employee explains they received a call from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department about the alligator. He says: ???Interesting part of the story is evidence they were a volunteer here actually at Animal World & Snake Farm way back then, decades ago, and apparently stole this alligator, either the egg or the hatchling alligator and put it in their pocket and took off. ???[They] actually kept this thing as a pet for at least 20 years now.??? He explains the park is the ???rightful owner??? and says the alligator will ???live out the rest of her life??? there. ENDS EDITOR???S NOTE: Usage Licence: (SOCIAL??AND??LOCAL??MEDIA) We have obtained this material from a verified account on??social??media platforms and it has been widely used in??local??news media on a similar report without problems. Usage Restrictions: Jam Press accepts all responsibility for use on news media portals only, usage on??social??media platforms like Facebo](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/SEI_147230282-a4f6-e1678210187589.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=523)
Based on the Texas Parks and Wildlife Division, Tewa was stored in a backyard for ‘many years’ – round 50 miles away from the zoo.
However officers realised the home-owner lacked the required permits to maintain Tewa.
The unidentified proprietor has since been issued with two citations.
A video of Tewa has been launched by the zoo, detailing how she is slowly being launched to the opposite alligators.
Keepers added she’s going to spend the remainder of her life on the zoo, and has tailored properly to her new residence.
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