'Emaciated' Prospect Park Alligator Had Eaten Bathtub Stopper: Zoo

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN — An alligator rescued from Prospect Park's lake still has a big bite left to take toward recovery, zoo officials said.

The reptile dubbed "Godzilla" remains under medical evaluation by Bronx Zoo veterinarians and animal care staff after its weekend rescue, according to an update from the zoo Wednesday.

Beyond being "extremely emaciated," lethargic and suffering from exposure to cold temperatures, zoo staff found from a radiograph that the female gator had eaten a 4-inch wide bathtub stopper at some point.

“The alligator is currently in too weakened a condition to attempt removal of the stopper," the update states. "We will continue to provide supportive care for her and determine next steps based on how she responds to treatment."

The alligator likely was an ill-advised exotic pet that its owner had released into the wilds of Prospect Park, a not-unheard-of occurrence, city officials said.

Park staff spotted the alligator in the lake Sunday morning, prompting a rescue and widespread bewilderment across the city, nation and world.

"Alligators In NYC sewers ... how about Park Slope's Prospect Park?" a Patch headline stated.

But the shock of discovering a potential dangerous reptile in Brooklyn's Backyard arguably shouldn't distract from an ongoing tragedy.

The nearly 5-foot alligator apparently suffered greatly, according to descriptions of its condition from the Bronx Zoo.

The alligator had to be slowly warmed to an appropriate temperature after its rescue and was too weak and unresponsive to eat on its own, the update states. Zoo staff had to tube feed the gator to provide it nutrients, fluids, Vitamin B, antibiotics and antifungal medication, according to the update.

And then there's the alligator's size.

“When the nearly five-foot alligator was brought to the zoo by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, it presented as extremely emaciated weighing only 15 pounds," the update states. "An alligator of this size should typically weigh between 30-35 pounds."

The zoo's update ended with a message for would-be exotic pet owners: don't.

“The tragedy of this situation is a reminder that wild animals do not make good pets and that responsible pet ownership means making choices that will not negatively impact an individual animal or the environment," the update states.