{"id":153036,"date":"2022-02-22T18:05:11","date_gmt":"2022-02-22T18:05:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/?p=153036"},"modified":"2022-02-22T18:05:11","modified_gmt":"2022-02-22T18:05:11","slug":"alligators-daring-escape-from-enclosure-in-heavy-rain-sparks-huge-panic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/precoinnews.com\/world-news\/alligators-daring-escape-from-enclosure-in-heavy-rain-sparks-huge-panic\/","title":{"rendered":"Alligator’s daring escape from enclosure in heavy rain sparks huge panic"},"content":{"rendered":"

A huge American alligator has escaped its enclosure by hitching a ride on rising floodwaters.<\/p>\n

The male gator got stuck between fences after managing to cross an internal boundary fence.<\/p>\n

Australian Reptile Park keepers had to grab the animal around its belly before dangerously returning him to the lagoon, where he stays with 55 other alligators, news.com.au reports.<\/p>\n

Jake Meney, head reptile keeper, said the heavy rain made the whole task much more difficult, as the angry gator had become "incredibly slippery".<\/p>\n

\u201cYou never really know the temperament of an alligator, so although this guy was pretty happy to be relocated, we have to be prepared for him to change his mind at any stage,\u201d Mr Meney said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u201cAlthough there was no danger of him breaching the main boundary fence near visitors, there was still no way he would have been able to get back into the lagoon on his own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Queensland and New South Wales were hit with torrential rain which caused flash flooding in several areas.<\/p>\n

Between 25-50mm of rain fell on the NSW coast, which continued to some locations experiencing 60-80mm in an hour this morning (Tuesday, February 22). <\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s causing some dangerous flash flooding in these parts of the world,\u201d Dean Narramore from the Bureau of Meteorology said.<\/p>\n

The rain is expected to continue throughout the week.<\/p>\n

Staff at the Australian Reptile Park have said they will continue to monitor their animals closely. <\/p>\n