The 2012 Daytime Emmy Awards would probably have been a big bore if it wasn’t for famed zookeeper Jack Hanna. When he arrived on the red carpet in Beverly Hills with a lemur, porcupine and 5-feet-long alligator, people were just a tad bit more than surprised. That feeling then quickly turned into shock and awe when he brought them all up on the Hilton stage, including the gator.

Hanna presented the award for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series, which went to Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash. But when Hanna and his co-presenter realized Clash wasn’t in attendance, they let the award go to the next in line — which was apparently the alligator.

Like any ferocious-looking creature with an appetite for practically everything, the gator hobbled up close to the trophy and widen its jaws as if to devour it whole, much to the audience’s amusement. Thankfully Hanna confiscated the award before anything major happened. Don’t think Clash would’ve been too keen on waiting for the animal to poop out his Daytime Emmy.

More From 96.1 The Eagle