Washington, July 30 (IANS) A boat captain in the US has been charged with unlawfully feeding an alligator after the reptile bit off his hand in Florida Everglades, one of the largest wetlands in the world, The Sun reported.
The 63-year-old Wallace Weatherholt lost his right hand while undertaking a trip on his propeller-driven airboat in Everglades.
He had been dangling a fish over the water to entice the alligator, which leapt out and savaged him, the tourists on the craft told wildlife officials. The skipper, however, was able to steer the airboat back to base and was rushed to hospital.
Though the alligator was tracked down and killed, doctors failed to reattach Weatherholt’s hand.
Since feeding alligators is a criminal offence in Florida state, Weatherholt was jailed but later released on bail.
When the reptiles are fed, they lose their natural fear of humans and are more likely to attack, says alligator expert David Weathers.
