Big Mack, the 8-foot alligator that was living in Philly basement, has a new home in Florida

Big Mack, the 8-foot alligator whose rescue from a North Philly basement captured the hearts and night terrors of those on the internet, has found a new home.

ACCT Philly, the shelter that facilitated the move, confirmed Big Mack is headed to Jupiter, Fla.

The 127-pound gator made headlines as images of his Monday surrender spread. Video of animal control workers showed them carefully — and nervously — taping the behemoth of a reptile’s mouth shut and tying his stubby front legs behind his back.

“You’re under arrest,” joked one of the handlers as Big Mack — going against conventional legal advice — broke his right to remain silent and hissed in response.

“You have the right to remain hella awesome,” said another handler.

According to CBS3, Big Mack is heading to the Jupiter Alligator & Wildlife Sanctuary, known as JAWS, in Florida. The nonprofit that focuses on conservation and touts “conscious and ethical crocodilian care” on its website offered to take in Big Mack. The offer couldn’t have come at a better time. Initial plans to take Big Mack to Michigan fell through after it was discovered he was too big to fit on the plane.

According to ACCT Philly, Big Mack was purchased as a baby in 2012. He was living in a Hunting Park home, behind a padlocked enclosure. But after Big Mack’s owner and his partner split, the partner asked the shelter if they could take the reptile.

Big Mack is the third alligator — fourth if you count a gator-like caiman — ACCT Philly has rescued in recent weeks. Though the shelter takes in about 1,000 animals annually that aren’t cats and dogs, this many gators isn’t normal, according to the organization.

Sarah Barnett, executive director of ACCT Philly, believes the organization’s rescue of the 3-foot caiman roaming the popular FDR Park let other reptile owners know there was a place where their too-big-to-handle pets could go.

It’s illegal in Pennsylvania to own certain animals, including some endangered reptiles. Owning caimans, alligators, and crocodiles is fine — though some municipalities have additional restrictions — so long as they aren’t released into the wild.

ACCT Philly said it didn’t pursue charges in Big Mack’s case because it doesn’t want people to release their exotic animals when they need assistance.