A grotesque looking alligator that's missing the top half of its snout was discovered in Lake Hancock, Florida.
It was photographed by Myra Evers, who caught sight of the reptile's unusual appearance while she was biking along a trail by the lake.
Because the alligator was missing the top half of its snout, it has lost its ability to capture its prey and feed. Evers, like the rest of the community, quickly felt sympathy for the animal.
"I'm thinking it was starving because he was there with all these birds and there is no way he can grab at one," she told ABC Action News.
Apparently, an alligator with a broken snout is not uncommon. According to Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission spokesman Gary Morse, this kind of injury often results when alligators fight with each other.
"They tend to get aggressive toward one another, particularly males during mating season, which runs from the end of March to the beginning of June," he said, ABC News reports.
Unfortunately, nothing much could be done for the poor alligator. FFC said that if they put it in a cage, they would have to put it down eventually, so they suggested that it be left alone and allow nature to take its course.
"Injuries happen to all sorts of wildlife and when dealing with nature; the laws of nature are not always kind," said Morse. "We can feel for these animals, but there are unfortunately times when there is nothing you can really do to help," he added, according to ABC News.
Gatorland, a theme park and wildlife preserve based in Orlando, disagrees with FFC and will try to help the alligator, The Times-Picayune reports.
