After a while, Florida crocodile is relieved of shoe trapped in stomach, thanks to UF doctors

Joe Mario Pedersen, Orlando Sentinel
·1 min read

A group of University of Florida veterinarians removed a shoe from the stomach of a crocodile this month after several failed attempts.

The 10.5-foot, 341-pound Nile crocodile, named Anuket, ate the shoe in December after it fell from a zipline at St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park, according to UF.

Anuket was taken to UF’s Veterinary Hospital on Feb. 5 for shoe removal. The first attempt to do so involved one doctor reaching down the croc’s esophagus.

Attempt No. 2 had doctors performing surgery by making a small incision. Doctors tried pushing the shoe from the stomach to the esophagus, where they hoped to be able to feel and grab hold of it.

This didn’t work either.

Finally, doctors performed a gastrotomy which allowed easier access to the crocodile’s stomach, and were able to remove the sneaker.

Anuket stayed overnight and was returned home the next day for recovery.