*That is if the lake is the one at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park in Harbor City.
Giant Caiman Makes a Splash at L.A. Lake
Tue Aug 16, 8:24 AM ETLOS ANGELES - Park visitors have gone from feeding ducks and fish to nourishing a scaly green creature more likely found in Amazonian swamps than a Los Angeles lake — a giant crocodile-like caiman.
Since a gardener spotted it last Friday, people have tried to glimpse the 200-pound reptile wading and sunbathing at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park.
Like many Angelenos, the animal is an immigrant who is quickly adopting to its new home. It has already acquired, for example, a nickname matching its Latin American roots and its penchant for tortillas tossed by visitors: Carlito.
"They'll swallow anything, and if they can't swallow it, they'll tear pieces until they can eat it," said Jarron Lucas of the Southwestern Herpetologist Society.
Lucas' group, at the request of park rangers, is attempting to capture the animal with nets and a raw chicken, then give it a home at the Los Angeles Zoo. That could take a month, officials say. [full story]
I'll look forward to hearing updates about Carlito as he moves to the Zoo from Answer Man, Will Campbell. :)
Posted by jozjozjoz at August 16, 2005 10:57 AMthere's a group from colorado that has flown in to try and capture the caiman. they're "caiman specialists" who say they'll catch it in two days or work for free until they get it.
Posted by: yoshi! at August 16, 2005 04:53 PMAre you sure it's not a "Carlita?"
Posted by: Nez at August 17, 2005 06:02 AM
What I find astounding is that people will flock to see it, perhaps trying to feed it, under the mistaken impression that if you feed it a tortilla, it won't hurt you. As if ANYTHING in the animal kingdom gave a SHIT about human mores. People, people people! It's a potentially dangerous animal, a predator! Stay the fuck away from it.
Posted by: Deltus at August 16, 2005 11:23 AM