Reggie the alligator does it again

The reptile who has trouble with authority goes missing at the L.A. Zoo. He's later found outside his enclosure.

Reggie the alligator
By Andrew Blankstein and Tiffany Hsu
Los Angeles Times Staff Writers

11:49 AM PDT, August 15, 2007

Reggie, the alligator that eluded capture for nearly two years at a lake in Harbor City, appeared to pull a similar disappearing act at his new home at the L.A. Zoo today. At least for a while.

Zoo officials said they couldn't find Reggie this morning in his water enclosure at the zoo, where he was placed after finally being captured from Lake Machado earlier this year. He was found sometime later on zoo grounds but outside his enclosure, according to two zoo sources.

Officials said they found Reggie about 10 a.m. near a loading dock, not far from the Children's Discovery Center.

"Reggie was caught by several zookeepers and curators and is being held in the zoo's quarantine facility," the zoo said in a statement. "Staff inspected his exhibit and after careful review determined that Reggie escaped by climbing up a side wall in his habitat.

"Corrective modifications will be made immediately so Reggie can be returned to his zoo habitat by 12 p.m. today. Once on exhibit, staff will monitor his condition and whereabouts."

Reggie the alligator and his LA Zoo handlers