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TRAGEDY AND TERROR AS ‘SALAMI’, AMERICAN ALLIGATOR, STRIKES AGAIN AT CENTRAL ORLANDO ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDENS IN APPARENT ATTACK AND ESCAPE
Orlando Sentinel
, July 31, 2017In the early hours of July 31, ‘Salami’, a local American Alligator, escaped the Central Orlando Zoo & Botanical Gardens following an apparent attack on an unidentified man. The circumstances surrounding the attack and escape are still unclear, however it is suggested that the victim broke into the zoo with the intent of interacting with the animal. Zoo security tapes show a break-in occurred at the facility at 3:35am. The man on the CCTV footage, still unidentified, visibly enters the facility overtop of the closed welcome gate by the main entrance. Moments later, appearing to be injured from the break-in, the man walks out of frame in the direction of Alligator Village. When employees arrived at the facility around 5:30am they were surprised to discover a large rock in front of the gate and a “significant amount of blood” by the Alligator enclosure. Orlando Police are still trying to determine the motive of the individual and his identity. “I can’t even fathom this.”, said Kirsty McGowan, Orlando Zoo employee, reptile department.
This news follows a story from May 2014, when Toby Mark, a 3-year old boy was snatched by an Alligator near Disney’s Epcot Centre. The alligator in question was taken and rehabilitated at the Orlando Zoo.
The Orlando Police are encouraging anybody who may have information about the whereabouts of the man or the alligator to step forward. “We don’t know who this individual is or what his intent was with the animal,” said Chief of Police, Roger Pal, “We are trying to identify this individual, we’d like to remind the public that alligators are wild animals and should never be engaged with unless by an expert.”