Alligator stolen when egg returned to zoo fully grown 20 years later

An alligator thought to have been stolen from a zoo 20 years ago has finally been returned.

Tewa, the 8-foot-tall alligator, was likely caught while still in an egg, officials say.

A volunteer at the Animal World & Snake Farm Zoo in Texas is said to have stolen it.

The alligator was found decades later at a nearby home in Austin by the state wildlife warden Friday.

It was returned to its “rightful owner” – the zoo – on Monday.

Wardens reminded the public, “Alligators don’t make good pets, y’all.”

A zoo employee said: “There is evidence that the thief was a volunteer here at Animal World & Snake Farm decades ago.

“Apparently they stole this alligator, either the egg or the young alligator, and put it in their bag and ran away.

“They’ve had this thing as a pet for at least 20 years now.”

According to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Tewa was kept in a garden “for many years” — about 50 miles from the zoo.

But officials found the homeowner lacked the necessary permits to keep Tewa.

The unidentified owner has since been issued two subpoenas.

The zoo has released a video of Tewa detailing how she is slowly introduced to the other alligators.

Zookeepers added that she will spend the rest of her life at the zoo and has adjusted well to her new home.

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