ABC Action News, Emily McCain,
Jun 25, 2018
BUSHNELL, Fla. — Deputies
say someone stole a rare alligator from a building before setting it on
fire, killing the 43 other reptiles inside.
Sumter County Sheriff's Office
Deputies say they were responding to a structure fire when they found that
a rare alligator was missing, possibly stolen.
The victims told officials that
the rare Leucistic alligator, named Snowball, was in the building that morning.
But when deputies performed a search after the fire Snowball was nowhere
to be found.
Leucistic alligators have a
rare genetic mutation that causes the animal to lose color so they are primarily
white — often with blue eyes.
Deputies believe whoever set the
fire did it after they stole the rare animal.
During the search, officials were
able to account for all of the other reptiles housed in the building. In total,
43 alligators and crocodiles were found dead.
The State Fire Marshal's Office
is investigating the cause of the fire — which officials believe to be arson at
this time.
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