Predatory Fish Bites Woman Who Dipped Hand In Display Pond At Shopping Mall

A woman in Israel was bitten by a predatory fish after she dipped her hand inside a display pond at a shopping mall.

Authorities said that it was unclear how the fish, which is illegal in the country, ended up in the fishpond. The creature has been identified as an alligator gar, one of the biggest freshwater fish in North America, according to the Jerusalem Post.

The fish is found mainly in the southern United States. Its snout and long, sharp teeth resemble that of an alligator. On Sunday, the fish was caught by the Agriculture Ministry after they received a report from the mall of a woman being injured due to a fish bite. The woman has not been identified.

Alligator gar fish are illegal in Israel as they can attack other marine creatures and are not suited to the country's climate.

"It's important to note that according to the fishing regulations, the holding of forbidden fish is a criminal offense," Hagai Neuberger, supervisor of enforcement in the fishing division, reportedly said. "Holding forbidden fish is a threat to the ecological diversity and people in Israel, and in this case, it was very much a threat to public safety."

A spokeswoman for the Agriculture Ministry said she could not reveal the exact location of the shopping mall while the investigation was ongoing. She also did not mention the exact date when the woman was bitten, but said it was just a few days before the predatory fish was captured, the Times of Israel reported.

Local media reported the woman was not seriously injured. The presence of the alligator gar inside the pond came to light only after the woman filed a report.

According to the National Geographic, alligator gar has a torpedo-shaped body in olive brown and comes armored with glistening scales. These creatures can grow up to 10 feet long. Despite their size and large teeth, they do not generally pose a danger to humans. The fish’s eggs are poisonous to humans if ingested. Alligator gar primarily prey on fish, but some of them also eat blue crabs, small turtles, waterfowl or other birds and small mammals.