160 reptiles, including an alligator, found on Oklahoma property

OKLAHOMA CITY, Nov. 10 (UPI) -- An Oklahoma City man was found to have in his home 160 species of reptiles -- including an alligator and 100 snakes --- most of which were imported illegally.

The Oklahoma Wildlife Department seized a young American Alligator, three Alligator snapping turtles and a Texas horned lizard, which are all illegal to keep as pets in the state of Oklahoma.

Lawrence Christopher Curtis, 62, is also accused of importing several of the animals without the proper permit -- including 60-70 varieties of poisonous snakes.

"These are all exotics from South America, Africa, said Bryan Wilkerson with the Wildlife Department. "There was one anaconda there that was 15 feet long and he weighed 165 pounds."

The state left the snakes in Curtis' care and is working with him to resolve the permit issues.

"All the venomous snakes were brought into Oklahoma without an import permit," Wilkerson said. "We will leave those animals with him and we'll work to make him legal on those animals."

Curtis, whose collection is estimated to have cost nearly $150,000, is due in court in January on four wildlife charges.