Eight-foot alligator stolen from Texas zoo as an egg or hatchling 20 years ago is returned

An 8-foot alligator that was stolen from a Texas zoo 20 years ago as either an egg or a hatchling has been returned.

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials discovered the alligator in a woman's backyard by chance while investigating a potential case of illegal hunting.

She told them that two decades ago she had been volunteering at a nearby zoo when she took the animals to raise it as a pet.

Since possessing an alligator in Texas is illegal without proper permits, the reptile was returned to Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo - about 40 miles from the woman's home and just south of Austin.

Texas game warden Joann Garza (pictured) said officials discovered an alligator in a woman's backyard by chance while investigating a potential case of illegal hunting

The alligator was returned to the Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo from which it was stolen about 20 years ago either as an egg or a hatchling

Jarrod Forthman (pictured on the right), who works at the zoo, said alligator nests can contain 50 or 60 eggs or hatchlings at that one could easily be taken without arousing suspicion

Game wardens said the woman was sad to lose her pet alligator, named Tewa, and that it had been generally well taken care of, but that it had outgrown its enclosure.

A spokesperson for the department said the confiscation was authorized by a judge in early February after the woman, who was not identified, was unable to meet the requirements of ownership.

Texas law allows people to keep alligators if they are farming, educating or using them for zoological reasons. 

'She did take it a little bit tough but she does still have to follow all of the rules and regulations in the state,' Texas game warden Joann Garza told KWTX. 'It was very friendly with her,' she added.

Jarrod Forthman, who works at the zoo, received a call from the Parks and Wildlife Department soon after they found the alligator.

'Alligators will have a nest of 50, 60 eggs at a time. So it would have been very easy for someone to take an egg or a hatchling home just kind of without anyone noticing,' he told the channel.

'They were volunteers here at Animal World and Snake Farm decades ago and apparently stole this alligator, either the egg or the hatchling alligator at the time, put in in their pocket, and took off and actually kept this thing as a pet for at least 20 years,' said Forthman in a video posted on Friday.

The woman was said by wardens to have taken good care of the alligator, which she had named Tewa, but that it had outgrown its enclosure (pictured)

Forthman said he sympathized with the woman who lost her pet but assured it was now under good care

Wardens have reported that the alligator is fairing well in its new habitat, where it has the company of other alligators

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department posted footage of the repossession. 'Alligators don't make good pets, y'all,' it said in the caption.

'Texas Game wardens helped relocate this alligator to wildlife rehabilitators at Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo. The gator had been illegally living in someone's backyard for many years and had grown to nearly 8 feet,' it added.

'My heart goes out to her and we're going to give it a new home,' said Forthman.  

Wardens have reported that the alligator is fairing well in its new habitat, where the woman will still be able to visit her former pet. 

She could face up to $1,000 in fines for the illegal possession of the alligator but any charges for stealing the egg or hatchling are past the statute of limitations.