A couple of years ago, someone here in Southern Cali, had one as a pet, and when id did get to "adult" size, it was to much for them and they let him go in the LA River. He lived there for years, with people seeing him once in a while. He was caught and given to the zoo, but point is, people like them as babies, but when they get to big, they either let them go, or get rid of them. Its a sad truth about an amazing animal.