In Plant City, Florida, the state’s wildlife officials have charged a teenager with alligator abuse after a video about the cruelty went viral on social media.
According to the Orlando Weekly, the video, recorded last Thursday at a Hardee’s parking lot, showed a group of teens handling a juvenile alligator roughly. One teen used the alligator’s teeth to puncture a can of Arizona Twisted Tea. Moments later the teen drank from the can with the alligator still attached by its jaws.
The lack of respect and responsibility shown toward this animal was disappointing to see. … This serves as a strong reminder of the consequences of such behavior.
…depicted the pair harassing and illegally handling a young alligator.
FF&W
The video was taken by a woman who had been at a truck meet and spotted the teens drinking. Several of the kids had been forcing alcohol into the baby gator’s mouth and throwing the defenseless little guy around. The young woman ordered the teens to stop, however they continued mistreating the gator. The video showed the teen slamming the gator to the concrete driveway. Fortunately the little guy survived.
The alligator has since been examined and released to a nearby retention pond and is expected to recover.
(Screenshots via video Channel 8 News)
Check out the video. What were these stupid kids thinking?
Disgusting!!! I am not a fan of large, carnivorous reptiles but I would never hurt one……, I prefer to leave them be and hope they offer me the same courtesy.