Reggie is the name of an alligator, believed to have been raised in illegal captivity, who became feral and was sighted for two extended periods at a public park in the South Bay, Los Angeles area in 2005 and 2007.[1] The animal is now in captivity at Los Angeles Zoo.
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Reggie was first seen swimming in Machado Lake at Harbor City, California's Kenneth Malloy Memorial Park in August 2005. He became a media sensation shortly thereafter, receiving coverage as far away as Europe, and eventually inspiring a website,[2] a line of merchandise, and even becoming the official mascot for nearby Los Angeles Harbor College.[3]
Two men from San Pedro, California suspected of illegally raising exotic animals were arrested in August 2005 in connection with releasing Reggie into the lake.[1]
City officials immediately set efforts in motion to apprehend him. The entire 53-acre (21 ha) lake was cordoned off and several professional "gator wranglers" were hired. But despite a nearly three month-long effort, Reggie managed to elude capture and began making fewer and fewer appearances until he seemed to disappear altogether. Until May 2007, Reggie was believed to be either in hibernation or dead. "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin pledged that if the gator ever re-emerged, he and his crew would go to the lake and attempt a capture.[3]
In September 2005, officials searching for Reggie discovered a smaller alligator in one of the storm drains connected to the lake. This gator was dubbed "Little Reggie".[1]
On April 30, 2007, roughly a year and a half after he was last seen, Reggie emerged on the surface of the lake and appeared to be at least a foot longer than at his last sighting 18 months earlier. Fencing was immediately put up again and more specialists were contacted to try to bring him in; he was once again in the media spotlight.
On May 24, 2007, Reggie stepped out of the water and went over to a 300-foot (91 m) area of dry land. Officials who were there quickly seized the opportunity and cornered him. One of the officials, a zoo employee and Curator of Reptiles and Amphibians Ian Recchio jumped on his back, threw a t-shirt over his head, and wrapped duct tape around his snout. He was seven feet long at the time of his capture. As of May 26, 2007, Reggie is residing at the Los Angeles Zoo.[4]
On August 15, 2007, zookeepers at the Los Angeles Zoo discovered Reggie missing from his habitat when they entered the facility at 10 a.m. Reggie was later found near a loading dock within the zoo proper, and returned to his cage. Zookeepers vowed to make "modifications" to his habitat to prevent future escapes.