SAN FRANCISCO SAYS `SEE YA LATER, ALLIGATOR'.Byline: Karyn Hunt Associated Press With a snap of its not so ferocious teeth, the little lost alligator alligator, large aquatic reptile of the genus Alligator, in the same order as the crocodile. There are two species—a large type found in the S United States and a small type found in E China. Alligators differ from crocodiles in several ways. that took up residence in a city lake gobbled up its last San Francisco supper - a white rat white rat n. A domesticated albino variety of the Norway rat, used extensively in laboratory experiments. - during a goodbye party held in its honor at the city zoo Tuesday. The 3-foot-long American gator was scheduled to fly out of San Francisco International Airport “SFO” redirects here. For other uses, see SFO (disambiguation). For the television series, see . Wednesday in a specially padded wooden crate. It is bound for Louisiana, where it will be released Thursday morning into the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, 500 acres of managed wildlife habitat. ``It's going to feel very nice and real and homey to him,'' Golden Gate National Recreation Area Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Calif.: see National Parks and Monuments (table). Manager Brian O'Neill said during the cake and cookies festivities fes·tiv·i·ty n. pl. fes·tiv·i·ties 1. A joyous feast, holiday, or celebration; a festival. 2. The pleasure, joy, and gaiety of a festival or celebration. 3. . The tiny reptile became the toast of the town in August when its presence in the Presidio's Mountain Lake captured residents' imaginations and the news media's fancy. A 10-week hunt for what was imagined to be a modern day Loch Ness monster Loch Ness monster “Nessie”; sea serpent said to inhabit Loch Ness. [Scot. Folklore: Wallechinsky, 443] See : Monsters Loch Ness monster supposed sea serpent dwelling in lake. [Scot. Hist. became national news when park officials, zoo keepers and even one of Louisiana's best gator hunters failed to snare snare (snar) a wire loop for removing polyps and tumors by encircling them at the base and closing the loop. snare n. the creature. The game of hide-and-seek ended Oct. 8 when the adorable, 7-pound creature fell for $1.47 worth of raw fish. ``We've all come to love this little critter,'' O'Neill added. ``A warmth and compassion and feeling for this alligator really grew.'' About 50 zoo visitors, park officials, animal keepers, politicians and reporters gathered by the gator's glass-walled cage Tuesday, and the little reptile watched as if it knew what was going on. Nearby sat a 2-foot-high farewell card his fans had made for him. ``Have a great time in the swamps,'' wrote one person. ``Stay out of trouble,'' wrote another. And finally the inevitable, ``I'm going to miss that toothy smile. See ya later, alligator.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: (ran in BULLDOG edition only, p.3) A farewell cake depicts the little lost alligator that took up residence in the Presidio's Mountain Lake. Associated Press |
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