A popular resident of Houston's zoo will soon get a new home.
Blanco, the leucistic alligator, will move to a privately owned facility.
Leucistic alligators are white, which makes them very rare.
The zoo says Blanco first arrived in 1992.
He will now be moved to Crocodile Encounters just north of Angleton. The facility has built a large new habitat for Blanco.
It features a 9-foot covered pool to protect his skin from sunburn and encourage natural swimming and basking.
The habitat also contains a heated building with a pool for use during cold or inclement weather.
Blanco is expected to move in the next few weeks.
“Although we are very sorry to see Blanco leave, we are happy he will be moving to a great new home, to be cared for by staff with a wealth of expertise working with crocodilians,” said Stan Mays, the Houston Zoo's curator of herpetology. “Plus, Angleton is close to Houston, so we will have the opportunity to visit him frequently.”
Blanco's current space at the zoo will be renovated to house reticulated pythons.