A Florida 765 pounds alligator has been killed by two men with just their hands after a four hour long struggle.
According to Action News Jax, the two men, Keith Kelley and Kelly Sziy, who had been trailing the gator for many months, found him in the St Johns River in the wee hours of the morning on Thursday, Oct. 23rd.
Kelley revealed that he told his hunting partner to "Put some leather gloves on and I told Kelly; we're going to have to get him by hand and that's all it is to it."
Reports indicate that the gator is so large that it broke the scale initially used to check its size. The gator reportedly measured 13 foot, 4 inches in length.
According to Local 10, Florida Fish and Wildlife officers are investigating to see if the Florida 765 pounds alligator is the largest animal killed by hands in the state.
Since the late 20th century, alligator hunting has been legal in the state of Florida. Experts say it is an ingenious way of controlling the population of the reptile, while bringing revenue to the state and entertainment to the public.
Reports indicate that the Florida 765 pounds alligator, nicknamed 'Lumpy' will be used for processed meat. Its head it set to be mounted on the walls of one of the hunters.
Alligator attacks are rampant in Florida. In August, a 9-years-old boy was bitten by a gator as he swam in Lake Tohopekaliga.
Experts say the Florida 765 pounds alligator one of the largest caught in the area. Jim Barlington, a curator for reptiles, explains that, "Usually when people say they've seen a large reptile, it's usually around 11 feet or so."
