by Maureen Schiener
This is a final update on the status of Albert the Alligator who was confiscated by New York’s DEC in March, 2024.
After years of back-and-forth litigation, the guardian of Albert the Alligator has given up his fight. Albert had been seized by the Department of Environmental Conservation without notifying Tony Cavallaro, in whose home Albert had lived in a special enclosure complete with a swimming pool, for over 30 years.
Tony had faithfully renewed Albert’s special permit for 31 years. Then the NY DEC significantly updated its regulations regarding threatened and endangered species, which affects special permits for certain exotic animals, with changes effective March 2021. According to Tony, at that time the DEC would not respond to his calls and emails regarding the new regulations. Thus, the non-stop court cases began until finally Tony decided to not continue. The DEC finally dropped their appeal which would allow him to reapply for a permit that the State informed would be denied immediately. To continue the case would involve at least a year or two and more attorney’s fees, plus the increasing notoriety the case was bringing to Tony.
As reported previously, Albert is now living in Gator Country in Beaumont, Texas, “the largest alligator adventure park in Southeast Texas”. (gatorrescue.com) Promoting itself as a sanctuary for alligators, Gator Country is where you can experience “hands-on animal encounters, educational feeding shows, and unforgettable wildlife encounters” like letting the kids handle baby gators plus a petting zoo. Some “sanctuary.”
Whether or not one believes a live alligator (or squirrel) should not be considered a pet housed in an inside enclosure for its natural life, isn’t it the point that the State institute protocol to first contact the individual by mail or in-person before sending a slew of law enforcement to his/her home as if they were already judged guilty of a crime? We trust the new DEC Commissioner has seen how (human) lives are traumatized by the heavy-handed acts of her department. The DEC performs vital, lifesaving services which we truly appreciate, but over-stepping their power of authority tarnishes its reputation and is a bad look for a department whose mission it is to protect animals and the environment.
Maureen Schiener is a Planning Board Member of the League of Humane Voters/NY and a member of C.A.S.H. She has interviewed Tony Cavallaro three times.