One Year After Sewer Rescue, Thanos the Alligator is Thriving and Making Friends
September 13, 2024Remember Thanos, the pint-sized baby alligator that two of our crew members rescued last April from a pre-treatment screen at Kline’s Island Wastewater Treatment Plant?
These days Thanos is enjoying life at Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland in Allenwood, PA. And at almost 2 feet long and just under 1 pound, he’s still little, but growing fast!
In fact, Thanos the alligator has been making the rounds with Reptiland staff members as they visited children’s camps and other educational programs over the summer. Some event participants even get to pet Thanos. That’s only possible because he is still small and is being handled by the zoo’s experts. When he reaches full size, Thanos could be up to 13 feet long, weigh up to 600 lbs. and have 80 teeth! (In the accompanying photo, Thanos gives what passes for a grin.)
Kathryn Allen, Zoological Manager at Reptiland, recently shared some photos of the toothsome tyke. “He loves the color hot pink and basking in the sun,” she says. “He is currently on a diet of small fish, chicks, and croc chow, which is not his favorite because it’s the healthiest.”
Lucky Break
Thanos is certainly one lucky ‘gator. He was spotted only because the forecast called for a weekend of rain. Kline’s Island workers decided to initiate wet weather protocols and activate a second climber screen. The climber screens clear solid objects from wastewater, such as wipes, plastics and diapers. In other words, all kinds of objects that should never be flushed or sent down the drain!
Thankfully for Thanos, workers spotted his tail sticking out of a clump of diapers, fats, and other waste. It was a miracle the diminutive reptile even made it that far alive.
“It was only because of that fateful decision to turn on the second climber that I found it,” said LCA worker Chuck. “If we had not made that decision, I would not have gone into the climber area for hours and the animal would have surely perished.”
After he was saved, Thanos was transferred to Pocono Wildlife Rehab Center, where he was provided necessary care and feeding. After a brief stay, the staff helped him find his forever home at Reptiland.. (In the accompanying photo, a Reptiland staffer holds Thanos while students stroke the alligator’s scaly back.)
Reptiland first opened in 1964. Today it houses more than 40 species in re-created natural habitats — including mambas, cobras, pythons, tortoises, lizards, frogs and more.
The zoo is open daily from 9-5 Memorial Day through Labor Day, and 10-5 after Labor Day
Like the comic-book character he’s named after, Thanos the alligator is clearly a fighter. And if he could talk, he’d repeat our mantra: Never flush anything that’s not human waste or toilet paper!