MIAMI, Fla. (WFLA) — An 8-foot-long American alligator is recovering at Zoo Miami after what appeared to be a harrowing ordeal.
The injured alligator was found Tuesday in the Florida Keys with a spear stuck in its skull, authorities said. She was captured and taken to Zoo Miami for treatment.
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The spear protruding from the alligator’s head was a cause for great concern, but when Zoo Miami’s team examined the reptile more closely, they also discovered a bullet lodged between its eyes.
Fortunately, none of the crocodile’s injuries appeared to be life-threatening, the researchers said.
A team led by Dr. Gwen Myers performed delicate procedures to remove the spear, but as of Wednesday the alligator was still resting and recovering.
“Our goal is to release her back into the wild once her recovery is sufficiently advanced,” a Zoo Miami spokesperson said.
The zoo is working closely with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which is treating the incident as a criminal investigation.
Further information about the investigation was not immediately available.
