Alligator captured in Charles River

Alligator captured in Charles River

An alligator spotted Thursday by a canoeist paddling on the Charles River was captured this morning, state officials said.

The reptile was captured at about 6:30 a.m. by a specialist from Rainforest Reptile Shows in Beverly, said Wendy Fox, a spokeswoman for the Department of Conservation and Recreation.

Topher Cox, 38, of Needham, an advertising photographer, said this morning that he had bought a canoe on craigslist.org and was taking it out for a spin Thursday afternoon when he saw the alligator, which he estimated was about four feet long, on the river off of Needham Street in Dedham near the Needham line.

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Ralbovsky said somebody who owned the alligator had turned it loose illegally. The animal was healthy and will now be used in Rainforest Reptile shows until it gets too large -- it's expected to grow to 12 feet long -- when it will be transferred to an alligator farm in Texas or Florida, he said.



More:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/09/alligator_captu.html