UGA Coastal Ecology Lab saves gator from tomato cage

FRIPP ISLAND, S.C. (WSAV) — The University of Georgia’s Marine Extension Coastal Ecology Lab answered an unusual call from Fripp Island Golf & Beach Resort after a large male alligator known as ‘King Arthur’ got his head and neck stuck in a tomato cage.

King Arthur was eventually able to get the cage off his head, but the wire stayed wrapped around his neck — which is when UGA’s capture team stepped in.

After several tries, rescuers captured and freed the reptile from the cage.

The Coastal Ecology Lab says that the cage was possibly trash that was discarded and stressed the importance of properly disposing of all types of waste.

“While we do not know how he got his head stuck in a tomato cage, our best guess is that the cage ended up in the water, washed into a pipe and that when the alligator swam through the pipe he also swam into the tomato cage.”

Also, biologists stated that the community should leave wild animals tangled in trash alone — despite the urge to rescue an animal in distress — contact your local wildlife agency.