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| Man captures photo of raccoon 'riding an alligator' | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A man walking in a national forest in central Florida has captured a rare image of a raccoon appearing to ride on the back of an alligator. | A man walking in a national forest in central Florida has captured a rare image of a raccoon appearing to ride on the back of an alligator. |
| Richard Jones was walking with his family in the Ocala National Forest when they spotted the alligator. | Richard Jones was walking with his family in the Ocala National Forest when they spotted the alligator. |
| He believes his son startled the raccoon while trying to take a picture of the reptile. | He believes his son startled the raccoon while trying to take a picture of the reptile. |
| The image has become an internet sensation since the photo was taken on Sunday morning. | The image has become an internet sensation since the photo was taken on Sunday morning. |
| Mr Jones told local television station WFTV that he "snapped a lucky picture right when the gator slipped into the water and before the raccoon jumped off and scurried away". | Mr Jones told local television station WFTV that he "snapped a lucky picture right when the gator slipped into the water and before the raccoon jumped off and scurried away". |
| "Without the context you'd think the raccoon was hitching a ride across the river," he told the television station. | "Without the context you'd think the raccoon was hitching a ride across the river," he told the television station. |
| The internet reacts | The internet reacts |
| The photo was met largely with humour and a degree of admiration for the raccoon. | The photo was met largely with humour and a degree of admiration for the raccoon. |
| "The raccoon riding an alligator is the most Florida thing since mortgage fraud," tweeted Benjamin Freed, a writer for the Washingtonian, alluding to the financial crisis that began in 2007. | "The raccoon riding an alligator is the most Florida thing since mortgage fraud," tweeted Benjamin Freed, a writer for the Washingtonian, alluding to the financial crisis that began in 2007. |
| While Mark Di Stefano found a deeper meaning in the image: "Some days you're the raccoon. Some days you're the alligator." he tweeted. | While Mark Di Stefano found a deeper meaning in the image: "Some days you're the raccoon. Some days you're the alligator." he tweeted. |
| The debate also moved to how this compared to previous internet animal stars. | The debate also moved to how this compared to previous internet animal stars. |
| One Tweeter put out a call for a meme. | One Tweeter put out a call for a meme. |
| Which thankfully the internet answered. | Which thankfully the internet answered. |
| Meanwhile, Steve Drew suggested that this was actually the beginning of an improbable Hollywood plotline. | Meanwhile, Steve Drew suggested that this was actually the beginning of an improbable Hollywood plotline. |
| "Someone took a photo of raccoon riding an alligator in FL. That or Guardians of The Galaxy II is off to a good start," he tweeted. | "Someone took a photo of raccoon riding an alligator in FL. That or Guardians of The Galaxy II is off to a good start," he tweeted. |
| Whilst one tweeter counselled that this was actually a far more serious matter than it first appeared. | Whilst one tweeter counselled that this was actually a far more serious matter than it first appeared. |