Must see: Biggest gator EVER unveiled in Alabama — 15 feet 9 inches and 1,011.5 pounds

Must see: Biggest gator EVER unveiled in Alabama — 15 feet 9 inches and 1,011.5 pounds

The Stokes family stumbled upon the giant while on a hunting expedition near the Alabama River last year.

A massive record-setting alligator measuring more than 15 feet in length was unveiled for the first time at Mann Wildlife Learning Museum in Montgomery, Alabama.

The alligator, the largest ever, was pulled from Mill Creek near the Alabama River by the Stokes family in August of 2014, according to an AL.com report.

The Safari Club International World Record Alligator clocked in at 15 feet and 9 inches, and it took John Stokes, his wife Mandy, brother-in-law Kevin Jenkins, and kids Savannah and Parker to get the 1,011.5-pound gator.

The alligator obliterated the old state record of 14 feet, 2 inches and 838 pounds.

Researchers who examined the carcass estimated that it was between 24 and 28 years old, much younger than many people had assumed due to its enormous size. However, a biologist has suggested it could have been simply born big and out-competed its siblings for food, growing at an incredible pace by being at the very top of the food chain. The Alabma River also has plenty of good food for hte gator, including deer, hogs, fish, and turtles that could help it balloon in size.

Children lined up to have their picture taken with the giant alligator that has since been taixdermied and put on display. About 100 people and local media were on hand for the unveiling.

The family had no idea what lay in store for them when they went off last August on a hunting expedition.

Alligator hunts are popular in the state, but limited in order to protect the species from overhunting. Because alligator populations are growing quite fast, the state has allowed alligator hunts in the southern half of the state with more than 200 tags split between the zones.

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