INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana State Police say an alligator found on I-465 over the weekend was someone’s pet, and they believe it was thrown from a moving vehicle and left for dead.
Troopers believe this could be a case of someone improperly disposing of or releasing a domesticated reptile.
Whoever owned the alligator did not need a permit, because Indiana law only requires one for gators that are five-feet or longer.
With that in mind, do you know how close you live to an exotic animal?
If you thought that the zoo was the only place you could find exotic animals in Indiana, you’re wrong. There are dozens of people in the state who own animals like tigers, foxes and even alligators as pets.
Paul Venckus is one of those pet owners, he said his 3-year-old American Alligator is 21 pounds of feist, “Even though he’s a different kind of pet, he’s still something that’s really special to us.”
They’ve been around for close to 80 million years, according to Venckus, but in recent years representatives with the Department of Natural resources say more people have started to bring crocadillians home as pets.
Hannah and Paul Venckus, the daddy daughter duo behind the traveling animal show Hedgehog Hannah, tried to explain to us why. “I’ve seen people try to take their alligators on walks with a harness and leash,” said Hannah, “People love having something different.”
It’s actually quite easy to buy an exotic pet, with the click of a mouse you can go online and buy a gator like the Venckus’ have, but they say it’s not something for everyone. Having an exotic pet takes a lot of time and money. They keep their gator and other exotic pets in a climate controlled barn.
Captain Bill Brown with the Indiana DNR said people should think before trying to take one of these exotic animals home as a pet, “What we’re asking is that people use their minds a little bit. Have a futuristic plan, if they don’t, don’t take one of these home with you.”
One the gators reach five feet, the state deems them dangerous and requires owners to get a permit. IDNR has approved 50 permits for exotic animals in the state, and only six of those are for gators.
According to IDNR gator permits have been approved in Noble, Floyd, LaGrange and Putnam counties.
But Paul said he thinks there should be more, “You know I think you should really have a permit for anybody that’s gonna get an alligator in Indiana, because they are going to get to be too big. They’re neat animals, but terrible pets. “
IDNR said they typically find four to five alligators a year abandoned in Indiana waterways. Those animals usually end up dying because they can’t survive the winters here.
The Venckus’ pet, Erwin, is a rescue gator, and when he reaches six feet his owners say they plan to take him to an animal sanctuary in Florida.
The father-daughter duo says they are willing to help anyone who needs to find a new home for their alligator. You can visit their site at hedgehoghannah.com.
