A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of keeping alligators at the infamous Alcatraz prison, overturning a lower court's decision to release the reptiles into the wild. The ruling comes after a contentious legal battle between animal rights activists and wildlife officials over the fate of the alligators on the iconic island.

The Judge’s order to remove the alligators from Alcatraz was met with fierce opposition from the Department of Fish and Wildlife, who argued that the reptiles were an important part of the ecosystem on the island. Wildlife officials also cited concerns about the safety of releasing the alligators into the surrounding waters, where they could pose a threat to local wildlife and potentially harm humans.

Operations on the island were temporarily halted pending the appeals court decision, but have now resumed following the ruling in favor of keeping the alligators at Alcatraz. The decision has been met with mixed reactions, with animal rights activists expressing disappointment while wildlife officials and conservationists are relieved.

For now, the alligators will remain on Alcatraz, continuing to be a unique and controversial feature of the former prison turned national park.