- A nearly five-foot alligator was found in a lake in New York City's Prospect Park.
- The animal was found "extremely emaciated" and in poor health.
- A bathtub stopper was found stuck in her body, but she is too weak to have it removed.
An alligator found in a New York City park has a bathtub stopper stuck inside her body, which her caretakers have been unable to extract because of her poor health.
The nearly five-foot alligator was found "extremely emaciated" in a lake in New York City's Prospect Park on February 19, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said.
An X-ray revealed that she had ingested a bathtub stopper, approximately four inches wide, but she is currently in "too weakened a condition" to try to remove it, the WCS said.
The animal, estimated to be between five and six years of age, weighed only 15 pounds when its normal weight should be between 30-35 pounds, the organization said.
When found, the animal was also lethargic and suffering from exposure to cold temperatures, and caretakers at the Bronx Zoo slowly warmed her to the right temperature.
She is also tube-fed for nutrients as she is "too weak and unresponsive to eat."
The organization said it would continue to provide care and determine the next steps based on how she responds to treatment.
The Parks Department believes that the alligator was likely once a pet that was abandoned.
"The tragedy of this situation is a reminder that wild animals do not make good pets and that responsible pet ownership means making choices that will not negatively impact an individual animal or the environment," the WCS said.
She is the sixth alligator to have been rescued in the city in the past five years, according to the Animal Care Centers.