31 Dec 2008

Alligator discovered at NSW camp ground

8:17 am on 31 December 2008

An American alligator has been discovered in New South Wales.

The National Parks & Wildlife Service says it was probably an exotic pet.

The ABC reports a coastal camp site at Pambula was evacuated while a holidaying snake handler caught the 1.5-metre reptile, which was initially thought to be a saltwater crocodile.

Senior ranger Robin Kesby says it has been taken to a zoo.

He says experts at Taronga Zoo say it's an American alligator, about the size of a five to ten-year-old.

He says it's illegal for exotic animals to be released into the wild.