The tale of the Garden State Gator is a sadly familiar one to the team at Forked River's Popcorn Park Zoo.

The zoo, which is run by the Associated Human Societies, is a menagerie of exotic and discarded animals. While many of the zoo's inhabitants got there through animal control or the police, some were released into the wild by overwhelmed owners.

Zoo officials insist setting those pets loose in New Jersey is a terrible idea. They beseech pet owners who find they are unable to care for their exotic pet to contact rescue groups or the authorities.

For more on the dangers of releasing exotic pets into the wild, go to channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.