It was a short stay at the zoo for the young alligator captured in Lake Holly in Va. Beach earlier this week.

From Va. Beach Police

A young alligator swims in Lake Holly.

The three-foot-long gator was spotted Sunday by concerned residents Sunday.  It took until late Monday afternoon for the reptile to be captured by a wildlife company.

The gator was taken to the Virginia Zoo Tuesday and held in quarantine while state officials determined what would happen to it.

Zoo officials said state wildlife officials picked up the gator Thursday.  13News learned Friday afternoon that the alligator was given to a local, unidentified citizen as a pet.

A state wildlife spokeswoman assured 13News the alligator will be kept alive as a pet.