SANFORD, Fla. – An American crocodile that escaped its habitat Friday afternoon at the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens has since been captured, zoo officials said.
The breach happened at about 2:30 p.m., but the cause of the incident is still under investigation. Marley the crocodile is 51 years old, nearly 13 feet long and has been at the zoo since 1983.
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Officials said the zoo's Herpetarium was cleared of guests while zoo staff assessed the habitat and returned the reptile to its home. The crocodile was in a contained area away from public pathways, meaning no guests were in danger, according to a news release.
"Our staff acted swiftly and followed all protocol to secure the animal in a safe manner," zoo CEO Dino Ferri said. "We practice for these types of situations throughout the year, so our team is prepared to respond accordingly."