He is making an effort to gator.

Joshua Applebaum, a 40-year-old citizen of Michigan who is well-known on TikTok for featuring his 4-foot pet alligator named Karen, has nearly 300,000 followers spread across two accounts.

He now asserts that an animal shelter is now “hostage-taking” Karen.

Deputies from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office pulled over Applebaum after he was involved in a high-speed police pursuit for speeding, and they were astonished to see Karen in the passenger seat, according to Fox 2.

The department posted on Facebook that “the passenger, ‘Karen’ the alligator, attempted to flee the scene but was put into jail after a short struggle.”

After posting bond following his incarceration, Applebaum now wants Karen back. She was given to Cicchelli Second Chance Rescue and Exotics.

The reptile is still being kept at the rescue facility right now.

“Karen is not under my custody. At this moment, she is being held captive, Applebaum said Fox 2.

The rescue’s director, April Cicchelli, claimed that Applebaum is unable to take good care of Karen.

I don’t give a damn that she’s popular on TikTok, Cicchelli said to Fox 2. She and three other alligators are in our enormous gator exhibit.