Cold, shocked alligator found in NY park

A "very lethargic" alligator was captured in a New York park, city officials said Monday, likely released by its owner far away from the species' warmer habitat in the southeast United States.

The reptile was spotted Sunday morning in Prospect Park, a favorite place for Brooklyn residents to picnic and stroll with their pets, especially when winter temperatures are in the 10-15 Celsius over the holiday weekend.

Rangers captured the four-foot-long (1.2 meters) alligator, which was "found very lethargic and possibly cold shocked," the park said.

It said that such urban public spaces "are not suitable homes for animals not indigenous to those parks" and that their release, while illegal, could also "lead to the elimination of native species and unhealthy water quality."

The alligator was later transported to the Bronx Zoo for rehabilitation and no was harmed.

The last publicized missing alligator was in June 2001 when authorities spent five days in pursuit and capture of a caiman in Central Park.