The animal may have been a dumped pet, officials say.
NEWARK -- A four-foot long dead alligator was found in a city park and removed Tuesday morning, officials have confirmed.
According to Essex County Sheriff Armando Fontoura, a jogger found the reptile at about 7 a.m. in Weequahic Park and alerted authorities. Sheriff's officers removed the alligator's body, which officials said they believe may have been a pet that someone dumped in the park after it died.
"We have never had a similar experience or a report of a gator sighting in any of our county park's waterways," Fontoura said in a statement about the animal, which is normally found in the southeastern United States.
"Maybe the owner believed Weequahic Lake's waters had some magical healing power."
The alligator's body was turned over to the Associated Humane Societies of New Jersey, authorities said.
Jessica Mazzola may be reached at jmazzola@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessMazzola. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
