Eight-foot alligator stolen from Texas zoo as an egg or hatchling 20 years ago ... trends now
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An 8-foot alligator that was stolen from a Texas zoo 20 years ago as either an egg or a hatchling has been returned.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials discovered the alligator in a woman's backyard by chance while investigating a potential case of illegal hunting.
She told them that two decades ago she had been volunteering at a nearby zoo when she took the alligator either as an egg or a hatchling to raise it as a pet.
Since possessing an alligator in Texas is illegal without the proper permits, the animal was later returned to Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo - around 40 miles from the woman's home and just south of Austin.
Texas game warden Joann Garza (pictured) said the woman was disappointed to have her pet taken away and that it was friendly with her
The alligator was returned to the zoo from which it was stolen 20 years ago after judge authorized its repossession because the woman could not meet ownership requirements
Jarrod Forthman (pictured on the right), who works at the zoo, said alligator nests can contain 50 or 60 eggs or hatchlings at that one could easily be taken without arousing suspicion
Game wardens said the woman was sad to lose her pet alligator, named Tewa, and that it had been
