10-foot-long alligator spotted sunbathing on Florida beach

In the United States, an alligator photographed on a Florida beach has become a veritable local celebrity. The reason ? The reptile took a sunbath before returning to the ocean.

A three-meter-long alligator was spotted Friday, October 14 on a Florida beach ( United States ). The animal took a sunbath before returning to the ocean.

An alligator sunbathed for 10 minutes

Luckily, this scene was immortalized by Kyle Hussey. The latter hastened to photograph the reptile as it swam towards the shore. After lying on the sand for about 10 minutes, the crocodilian returned to the expanse of salt water.

Photo Credit: KYLE HUSSEY

And the least we can say is that this situation is quite exceptional. Indeed, the National Ocean Service has stated that alligators are not found in the ocean.

« L it is alligators can tolerate salt water for a few hours or even days, they are primarily freshwater animals, living in marshy areas, rivers, streams, lakes and ponds “, can we read on the website of the organization.

Photo credit: KYLE HUSSEY

According to Kyle Hussey, an officer with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) had also spotted the carnivore and reported it to authorities. You may not know it, but about 1.3 million alligators live in Florida, explains the FWC website.

Also according to the agency, nearly 9,500 nuisance alligators - described as measuring less than 1.50 m and constituting ' a threat to people, pets or property - were shot in 2021, in the southeastern US state.

Photo Credit: illustration image/istock

Today, the FWC aims to “ proactively address alligator threats in developed areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur ».