Semi-Off-Topic News

The Piping Design Central website updates and fixes are coming fast and furious, so I haven't been notifying everyone on a regular basis (the changes are always re-indexed with the search engine, though).

As always, I'm asking for your input to the Piping Network section. If the dearth of responses continues I may have to actually write stuff myself!

In the meantime, here's something that probably belongs in the "Diversions" section:

Gator freed from West Boca drainage pipe, moved to park

By STELLA M. CHÁVEZ Staff Writer
Web-posted: 12:33 a.m. Dec. 30, 2000

WEST BOCA RATON -- After spending at least a month stuck in a drainage pipe, "Draino," the alligator, is safe and sound in an Everglades park.

    Three state-certified trappers spent a half-hour Friday morning pulling the animal out of the pipe, under Tradewind Road near the Broward County line. Later, one of the trappers delivered him to the Everglades Holiday Park where he can roam freely with other gators.

    The rescue wasn't easy. The trappers got help from the county's Water Utilities Department, which sent a jet-propelled machine that is used to clean drainage pipes. The machine raised the water level in the pipe, elevating the alligator so trappers could put a rope around its head and pull him upward to safety.

    A few dozen residents stood nearby watching the drama unfold. Nicknamed Draino by neighborhood children, the alligator has been the center of attention. Some residents fed the animal even though people are warned not to do so because that can cause the animals to lose their fear of humans.

    David Eastep, who lives across the street from the pipe, said he continually warned children not to get near the alligator.

"I was concerned about the kids," he said, adding that he didn't want
the animal killed. "I'm happy that he's going to a new home. I'd rather see him alive."

    One of the trappers, Rick Kramer, said he decided to give Draino to the Everglades Holiday Park rather than harvest the animal for its meat and hide, which can yield as much as $300.

"I promised one of the ladies who didn't want me to kill the
alligator," Kramer said. "I'm a man of my word. I'd love to save all the alligators, but if I did, there would be no place to live."

    Capt. Bruce Hamlin of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said trappers have the choice of finding a place for the animals or selling the meat and hide as payment.

    One resident said he didn't care whether the alligator stayed in the drainage pipe, but he became annoyed with people con his property, where the pipe is located.

"Thank God, it is gone," said John Vargas. "It has been the most
ridiculous thing I have ever seen. Look at my grass. See how they left it?"

    Stella M. Chávez can be reached at schavez@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6602. Received on Wed Jan 03 07:01:00 2001