An elusive 6 1/2 foot former pet alligator was captured Friday and taken to the zoo. Known as "Reggie," the reptile has been hiding out at Harbor Regional Park's Lake Machado for two years, ever since its former owner discarded it when it grew too large.

On Thursday, the gator came out to sun itself and officials were waiting with equipment to trap the unsuspecting beast.

It picked an area of the lake that was fenced in. Once the cold-blooded reptile was busy sunning itself, park officials slammed a gate shut. Then Los Angeles Zoo reptile expert Ian Recchio quietly came up behind it and put a hook around the gator's neck.

Then five or six men wrestled with the gator until the creature's deadly jaws could be securely closed with duct tape.

Reggie was transported to the zoo by truck. Zoo officials plan to hold him in quarantine for a month or two then put him on display in the zoo.