Gator Gotcha: Florida Man Charged for Housing Alligator in Aquarium
The Florida man never ceases to amaze me. There’s a guy in Orlando who decided to house an alligator in in an aquarium in his garage, of all places. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will tell you that this is definitely not something you’re allowed to do. No matter how cool the Florida man thinks it is.
According to WFLA, an FWC officer rolls up to an unsuspecting house in Orlando, brimming with curiosity. The target of their investigation? A 28-year-old dude by the name of Christopher Abelard. With a sly grin, Christopher revealed his hidden treasure… A 3.5-foot American alligator chilling in a 35-gallon aquarium tank. Clearly, someone was channeling their inner Steve Irwin but without the croc-savvy credentials.
Now, here’s where things get a tad fishy. Christopher, the alleged gator host, claimed ignorance and shifted the spotlight to his dad, 50-year-old Jean Abelard. According to the FWC report, the father-son duo were in cahoots when it came to their exotic pet conquests.
Alligator in Aquarium, a Wildlife Wonderland:
As if the gator wasn’t enough, Christopher dropped a plot twist in this bizarre wildlife episode. In another corner of the garage, he showcased not one, not two, but five boa constrictors living the high life in their own aquariums.
When the officer attempted to unravel the mystery of the gator’s origin, Christopher became as tight-lipped as a clam at low tide. He insisted he didn’t want to get involved and handed the investigative reins over to his dad, Jean.
Jean, in his defense, narrated a story that’s almost as wild as the gator’s presence itself. Apparently, he’d picked up the reptile from the middle of the road, fearing that someone might turn it into a Florida delicacy.
However, the wildlife caper took a turn for the worse when the FWC realized that not only did Jean lack the required permit to possess an alligator, but the gator’s home also didn’t meet the caging standards. As they described it, the aquarium was not only small but also had a mesh top secured with dumbbell weights, which is a far cry from the Fort Knox-style security you’d expect for a pet alligator. In the end, Jean found himself facing misdemeanor charges.