Texas woman kept pet alligator for 20 years, officials say
“Honestly, our heart does go out for her. This was her pet, but unfortunately, Texas law does not allow that for her.” Jarrod Forthman, director of Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo
Texas Parks and Wildlife officials found an 8-foot alligator in a woman’s backyard and learned she had been keeping it as a pet since taking an egg from a zoo more than 20 years ago.
A game warden discovered the American alligator, named Tewa, last month at a home in Caldwell County, just south of Austin. At the time the game warden was conducting an unrelated investigation that does not involve the woman, a Texas Parks and Wildlife spokeswoman said.
The warden learned the woman had taken an alligator egg two decades ago while volunteering at Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo in New Braunfels. She told the warden she had been caring for Tewa as a pet since then, but she did not have a permit to do so.
Texas law prohibits the possession of an alligator or alligator egg without a permit. The woman was charged with two Class C misdemeanor offenses, each punishable by a fine up to $500, Texas Parks and Wildlife officials said.
Tewa has been returned to Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo and is now living with a dozen other alligators there, zoo director Jarrod Forthman said. Game wardens posted video of Tewa being relocated on the agency’s Facebook page.
Because Tewa is female, she was able to acclimate to being around other alligators without any worry of fighting or conflict, Forthman said. Male alligators are typically more aggressive and fight over territory, particularly during mating season, he said.
American alligators have a lifespan of about 50 years, so Tewa could be living at the zoo for several decades, Forthman said.
“She’ll live out her life with us,” he said.
Forthman said the zoo “does not have a problem” with the woman visiting Tewa at her new home.
“Honestly, our heart does go out for her,” he said. “This was her pet, but unfortunately, Texas law does not allow that for her.”