Onlookers left stunned by DINOSAUR sized alligator taking a stroll just feet away from them in Florida

A VIDEO of a monster alligator taking a stroll just feet from a pair of awestruck tourists has gone viral – and left some asking if the beast is real or just an internet stunt.

The hulking reptile was filmed ambling across a grass pathway near to a group of holidaymakers in Lakeland, Florida, US.

According to Kim Joiner, who filmed the monster sized gator, it was very real and was just enjoying a stroll when she took the footage.

She posted the video to the Circle B Bar Reserve Polk Nature Discovery Center group on Facebook on Sunday and captioned the pic: "I love Circle B. Nature at its best.”

Joiner said the gator was around 12 feet long.

When asked by News6 if it was real she confirmed: "Yes it's real, and added it was "huge."

The video has been viewed over 15,000 times, and while some have expressed disbelief at the size of the reptile, others have issued a warning saying people shouldn't be so near one while they are laying on the ground.

One commentator said: "Holy smokes that is a dinosaur!"


Joiner said she thought the gator was at least 12 feet long.

More than a million alligators live throughout Florida, and the species is on the endangered species list as it looks very similar to the American crocodile.

Both have evolved from dinosaurs and alligators are thought to have looked the same for around 37 million years.

They usually attack their prey while in the water, and aren't very well equipped to hunt on dry land.

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Alligators have the strongest bites out of any animal in the USCredit: Chris Murphy

Alligators are opportunistic feeders who eat what they can get easily.

They have one of the strongest bites of any animal in the US – they can kill their prey with one snap of their jaws.

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