Alex the alligator found 11 days after going missing in Kansas City

But even with precautions, things went wrong that morning.

Around 11 a.m., students walking past Alex's aluminum enclosure on the school lawn noticed that the 2-year-old, 14-inch alligator was missing.

“Someone said, 'Hey, you didn't bring an alligator this year,'” said Smith, who was not at the event but learned of the incident from an employee.

“A quick search was carried out in the surrounding area, but Alex was missing,” he said. “We are creating thousands of petting zoos, and nothing like this has ever happened before.”

School administrators alerted the KC Pet Project — the nonprofit organization that runs animal control services in Kansas City — and six officers responded to search for the missing alligator, said Tori Fugate, director agency communications. Several firefighters also participated in the search, she said.

“They looked all around the college and the grounds, which were densely populated with brush and trees,” Fugate said. “The firefighters even deployed a drone to detect any movement. »

The hunt for Alex continued until 6:30 p.m. that night, but there was no sign of him, she said, noting that the search team also checked the bed of streams in the area the next day, without success.

The Park Hill School District alerted Lakeview parents that the alligator was missing and updates were posted on Facebook regarding the search. KC Pet Project also published an article about it, and local media rushed to the school to report that there was an alligator on the loose.

Residents worried about his ability to survive wandering Kansas City with a taped muzzle.

“People were worried about their young children and their pets, but they were also concerned that the pet would not be able to eat, drink or defend itself and that it might be harmed by hawks or large dogs and bobcats ” Fugate said.

Families living near the school put up signs warning people to watch out for the alligator, and everyone in the neighborhood searched their yards, she said. But without any sightings or leads, animal services workers decided to suspend their search after five days, on May 28.

On social networks, Internet users expressed their frustration at the disappearance of the alligator.

“It absolutely breaks my heart that his mouth was taped shut,” one woman commented on the KC Pet Project Facebook post. “Even if the alligator is found alive, I can’t imagine the pain of ripping the tape off.”

“Avoidable suffering. I don't like alligators at all…but I don't want to know anyone who is suffering. Sad,” another person posted.

Smith said he believes Alex did not escape on his own, even though the school district shared a photo from a teacher that showed Alex sticking his head through a gap in his enclosure shortly before his disappearance.

“We go to a lot of schools and our enclosures are specially built so the animals can't get out,” Smith said. “So I think someone must have eliminated this animal.”

Kelly Wachel, communications manager for the Park Hill school district, disputed that theory, saying school employees reviewed video footage from the day and saw nothing indicating anyone had taken the animal out .

As the days passed, she and others came to assume that the alligator probably did not survive.

Then, on June 3 – the first day of summer school – a middle school custodian spotted something moving near the back door as she took out the morning trash. It was Alex, still wearing the electrical tape that had wrapped around his muzzle 11 days ago.

“Someone put the alligator in a box and took it to the office until animal control could respond,” Wachel said. “Everyone was delighted that he was finally found.”

The tape was removed from Alex's snout and the alligator is at the KC Pet Project shelter while animal control officers complete their investigation, Fugate said. The group posted a notice on Facebook that Alex had been found, which read: “We are investigating where the alligator has been since his disappearance. »

Fugate pointed out that Lakeview Middle School does not have a permit from the city's Animal Services Division to host a petting zoo. Wachel said administrators didn't know they needed one and added they would get one in the future if they had another petting zoo.

For now, Alex has a private room at the animal shelter, with a small pool to relax in and plenty of fish to eat, Fugate said.

“We were wondering if we would ever see this little alligator again, so we are very happy that he is alive,” she said.

Although the alligator appears healthy, Alex is undergoing a thorough examination, she said.

After that, Smith said he hopes to get the alligator back.

“I’m relieved he’s alive – he looks great in the photos I’ve seen,” he said. “Anyway, I’m glad he was found.”