The reptile was brought by a petting zoo without the proper permit, and the circumstances of its disappearance are still being investigated.
An alligator disappeared at a Missouri middle school while its mouth was taped shut. Over a week later, it was found alive — and with its snout still covered.
The reptile was last seen around 11 a.m. on May 23 at Lakeview Middle School and was located on June 3, according to a Facebook post by the KC Pet Project, the non-profit that runs Kansas City animal shelter KC Campus for Animal Care.
At the time of its disappearance, officials were concerned that the reptile wouldn’t survive alone in the wild with its mouth taped shut, as reported by local outlet KSHB.
According to another local outlet, KCTV, the 14-inch-long gator was brought to Lakeview by Thorni Ridge Exotics Mobile Petting Zoo.
KC Pet Project explained that the company didn’t have the proper permit required by city code, which also prohibits alligators in the city entirely.
Tori Fugate, a spokesperson for KC Pet Project, mentioned, “Any type of event that showcases animals in Kansas City, Missouri, must have the proper permit to ensure the event is safe for all participants as well as the animals.”
The petting zoo alligator was part of an exhibit by an external company and was brought to the school for an end-of-year celebration, according to the organization.
Following its disappearance, KC Pet Project’s Animal Services Division arrived at the school to search for the gator, but the search was ultimately in vain.
With assistance from the Kansas City Fire Department, officers searched the school and the surrounding grounds for the animal for several hours, but couldn’t locate it, the non-profit shared.
A few days later, the animal’s fortune changed when Lakeview custodial staff found it outside the school’s backdoor.
KC Pet Project quickly responded to retrieve the reptile and get it the necessary help.
KC Pet Project shared in a Facebook post on June 3, “The missing alligator has been located, alive, and was picked up by our Animal Services Division.”
They noted, “We received an anonymous tip that it was discovered outside of the school, on the first day of summer school,” and added, “the alligator’s mouth was still taped shut.”
The organization brought the critter to its campus as quickly as possible for examination by a veterinarian who specializes in exotic pets.
An investigation into the alligator’s whereabouts over the past week is ongoing, according to the organization.
Thorni Ridge Exotics LLC owner Eric Smith stated they are “thrilled” that the alligator was found.
“We are thrilled that Alex has showed back up at the back door of the school. From the pictures, he looks like he was taken care of,” Smith wrote. “We are still waiting on the Kansas City Pet project to contact us back. We filed a police report for a stolen alligator a week ago Monday.”
“Alex’s enclosure is specifically made so he is not able to climb out or get out of the enclosure,” Smith continued. “Someone had to have taken him out of his enclosure. We have done thousands of these events and have never had a single issue like this.”
