A row has broken out on social media about whether photos of a giant alligator walking on the golf course of the Myakka Pines Golf Club in Englewood in Florida are a hoax.
The club has referred to the alligator as “a dinosaur looking reptile” and the photos have been shared more than 15,000 times on the establishment´s Facebook page.
The 12-13 feet long reptile was seen crossing the course on 6 March and was photographed by several people.
Many people have even questioned the legitimacy of the photos currently circulating the internet, and thousands took to social media to share their thoughts on the massive reptile.
Probably best to let him play through. Massive alligator spotted roaming Myakka Pines GC: http://t.co/GFf7m2zfXf pic.twitter.com/Nkbu7vOJQJ
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel)
marzo 11, 2015
On the club's Facebook page, Adelaide Harlan said: “That looks fake as ****.”
Others though have pointed out that this would not be unexpected.
Iowa Guthrie said: “it's not fake-cool. just a biiiig alligator, they exist guys.”
Kyle Hassler shared: “I live in Florida. There is no way in hell this is Photoshopped. Obviously people who never been here or *think* or * assume* they know Florida because they visited one time are dead wrong.”
Alligators are native to North America and are a common sighting in states like Florida, Louisiana and Georgia.
An average adult American alligator's weight and length is 360kg (790lb) and 4.0m (13.1ft), but they sometimes grow to 4.4m (14ft) long and weigh over 450kg (99 lb).The largest ever recorded, found in Louisiana, measured 5.84m (19.2ft).