An alligator found living behind a former Coca-Cola plant has been put on a weight loss regime to shed the pounds.
The gator was relocated from the grounds of the factory in Temple Terrace, Florida after residents were concerned about a damaged fence around the retention pond.
The 9-foot gator, who weighs more than 400 pounds, was taken to Croc Encounters where vets put the animal on a weight loss diet.
Director John Panner told WFLA-TV: “That’s a little heavy for that animal”.
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Residents nearby said locals had been feeding the alligator, which they’ve nicknamed Coca-Cola. Neighbors reportedly fed him lunch meat and hams.
However, experts have cautioned locals from feeding the animal food not suitable for their diet.
They said: “This alligator is extremely overweight and now accustomed to getting fed by people.
“Once people start feeding alligators they become a nuisance by no fault of their own and must be removed from the wild as they begin to approach people for food.”
Panner says his new nutrition plan will suit his species better.
He added: “All of our alligators get a mix of pellet diet.
“We’ll also feed fish, we also feed chicken, we’ll do that on a regular basis, and hopefully he’ll slim down a bit.”
Families were concerned children could slip and fall, where the gator was living. However, they didn’t want any harm brought to the creature.
“He’s really part of the Temple Terrace community,” said Sarah Lanyos.
Neighbors have also been discussing the gator on social media.
One wrote on Facebook: “I first met Coca-Cola two years ago, but the security guard at the building said he’d been there for years before that.”
“Me (and) my babies were just there last weekend to say hi,” she wrote on Facebook. “They’ll be thrilled to know he’s not going to be put down or anything.”
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