Water Bottles Found in Stomach of Dead Alligator at OKC Zoo

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Veterinarians at the Oklahoma City Zoo said seven plastic water bottles were found in the stomach of an alligator that recently died.

Veterinary services director Jennifer D'Agostino said the bottles created a blockage that prevented the alligator from digesting food correctly. She said the blockage became infected and the infection spread to the rest of the body.

D'Agostino and her staff used an arthroscope to check other alligators at the zoo and found coins, bottle caps, more plastic bottles and a child's shoe.

One alligator had swallowed a little plastic alligator.

The veterinarians pulled out the small items but are trying to figure out how to pull out the big things without major surgery.