Last updated:May 11, 2023, 3:50 PM IST
The routine inspection team was using the robot to check for problems in the pipe when they came across the giant alligator.
The 5 foot long alligator in the pipe. (Source: Facebook/City of Oviedo – City Administration)
Florida is in the headlines again and this time because of an alligator. A routine inspection of a stormwater pipe in Oviedo turned into an unexpected wildlife encounter when a camera-equipped robot spotted a 5-foot-long alligator. Video footage captured by the robot shows the giant reptile sitting calmly in stagnant water before becoming startled and baring its teeth as the robot approaches. The alligator eventually turned around and slowly walked away, occasionally glancing back at the robot before disappearing down the pipe.
The crew used the robot to look for problems in the pipe that runs under a road, but instead they encountered the giant alligator. While alligators are a common sight in Florida, finding one in a stormwater pipe is certainly not commonplace. The clip was shared by the city administration on Facebook. The caption explains the story behind the video. A stormwater crew examined a series of potholes that had appeared in the roadway and used a camera-equipped robot to examine any anomalies beneath the roadway. During the inspection, the crew came across the alligator, which initially looked like a toad due to its small size.
However, as the robot got closer, they realized it was an alligator and followed it through the pipes for about 100 meters before the robot got stuck in a depression and the alligator wriggled away. The video also captures the moment the crew realizes they have found an alligator and follows it as it moves through the pipe. The clip is also captioned, “You've heard of Snakes on a Plane?” How about “Gator in a Pipe”?
The video quickly went viral on social media, with many marveling at the crew's calmness as they encountered the large reptile. Despite the unexpected encounter, the crew remained calm and professional, capturing the incredible footage of the alligator and ensuring the safety of everyone involved. “I wonder how you have to follow him before he freaks out and climbs over the camera unit to run to freedom? It looked like the pipe was running away from the pond. “It’s good that the operator took his time and didn’t panic,” wrote one Facebook user.
“Oh wow, creepy,” one comment said. Another user wrote: “How did he get in there?”
What do you think about this unexpected encounter with the alligator?
- First published:
News viral Caught on camera: Alligator sneaks through Florida stormwater pipe
Comments are closed.