Firefighters in China capture escaped alligator in front of house

Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Firefighters in a Chinese city responded to a residential area to capture an escaped alligator found wandering in front of someone's home.

A video filmed Tuesday in Bozhou, Anhui Province, shows firefighters approaching the reptile as it walks in front of a house in a residential neighborhood.

Authorities said they were called to the area when the home's resident was awakened by his dog barking and looked outside to see the reptile skulking around.

Police said they determined the alligator had been purchased from a nearby market and subsequently broke out of its cage and made a run for freedom with its mouth still taped shut.

It was unclear whether the reptile was returned to the person who purchased it.