ORLANDO, Fla. (WFLA) – The future of the 9-foot-long crocodile looks bright last week.
Gatorland experts said Bungee The Almigator would then recover completely and live for the rest of his days in “crocodile paradise.”
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“He’s completely healthy, he’s completely fine… Our vet has come in, Dr. Bogan, and he’s made it all clear and we decided to put him in our 10 acres of swamp,” Gatorland expert Brandon Fisher told NBC affiliate Wesh.
Bungee’s name is a nod to the injury that took him to Orlando Park. Authorities believe someone may have tried to illegally capture the gator with a bungee cord. The cord was then embedded deep into the upper jaw of the reptile.
“Do you think you can catch a crocodile with a bungee cord?” Fisher said. “We live in Florida. You’re always getting the story of a Florida man… so who knows.”
Rescuers discovered a bungee at Paines Prairie Preserve State Park in Gainesville on June 12th. He had been discovered in recent months, but it is unclear exactly how long the cord has been wrapped around his jaw. Authorities said Code may have ultimately killed him.
After the bungee was transported to Gatorland, the cord was carefully removed.
Deep wounds are reminders of painful ordeals. However, if past rescues serve as indicators, Bungee is living a complete and healthy life before him.
About two years ago, Gatorland acquired a young Gator named Jawlene. The exact cause is unknown, but Jolen somehow lost the top half of her nose. It looked sliced just below her eyes.
Jauren then became Gatorland’s beloved, often spending her days with her friend “Nelly Wager” Turtle.
“She’s doing great things and she’s doing fine as everything comes out,” Fisher said.
Gatorland experts look forward to a similar future for Bungee.