NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — A nearly eight-foot alligator that was likely taken from a Texas zoo almost two decades ago as an egg or hatchling was found on a property near Austin and has since been returned to the facility. 

According to Texas Game Wardens spokesperson Jen Shugert, investigators were at a property in rural Caldwell County for a separate incident when they spotted the alligator in a pen. The woman at the property told them that she had taken the alligator about 20 years ago when she was volunteering at the zoo.

Upon further investigation by wildlife officials, the woman’s property did not meet the requirements for proper permits to keep the alligator. Texas Parks and Wildlife contacted the zoo to give the gator a new, or rather an old and familiar, home. Crews then arrived to capture the reptile and return her to Animal World and Snake Farm Zoo.

The zoo posted a video on its Facebook showing its staff carrying the alligator out of a truck and moving her to her new habitat at the facility with other gators. According to the video, the gator will live out the rest of her life at the zoo.

The zoo is located in New Braunfels, less than 30 miles northeast of San Antonio.