Man holding young alligator like baby seen walking streets of New Orleans, police say

New Orleans is notorious for strange goings-on, but police have drawn the line at walking the French Quarter with a live alligator.

Yes, it happened.

A bearded man was photographed carrying a young alligator across his shoulder like a sleepy toddler, and police want it to stop.

“Help us find this gator! This sighting was on May 30 ... at the intersection of Esplanade and Dauphine,” police said.

“The goal is to recover this alligator, which appears to be 3 feet long.”

Esplanade and Dauphine is an intersection that borders the popular French Quarter district.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries initiated the investigation but has been unsuccessful in finding “the persons of interest.” Three men are sought for questioning, NOLA.com reports.

Photos shared by police show the alligator is drawing crowds. The images also show its mouth is taped shut, which may have kept the man holding it from losing an ear or a finger.

The reptiles are native to Louisiana and it is illegal “remove an alligator from its natural habitat or accept one as a pet,” according to the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

“You can’t tame an alligator and even small ones may bite. In particular, never go near baby alligators or pick them up,” wildlife officials said. “They may seem cute and harmless, but the mother alligator may be nearby and will protect her young.”

This story was originally published June 4, 2024 at 6:08 AM with the headline "Man holding young alligator like baby seen walking streets of New Orleans, police say."