Reggie the celebrity alligator and Cajun Kate are hottest new item at Los Angeles Zoo

Reggie the gator gets new mate at Los Angeles Zoo

LOS ANGELES — Reggie the celebrity alligator is getting some female companionship at the Los Angeles Zoo.

The 7½-foot gator, who became famous after his owner dumped him in a lake several years ago, is now sharing a space with Cajun Kate.

The female gator moved in with Reggie after Methuselah, the zoo’s oldest animal, died in March at 70-plus.

Before arriving at the zoo, Reggie was illegally raised as a pet, then was dumped in Harbor City’s Machado Lake several years ago when he got too big.

He drew large crowds, found himself in songs and on T-shirts. Los Angeles County spent thousands of dollars staffing the lake to warn people.

He eluded trappers for two years before wranglers caught him in 2007 and brought him to the zoo. He escaped once.