Police are on the hunt for a thief who may have nabbed an endanged and rare Chinese alligator from a zoo in Lufkin, TX.

The animal is extremely rare, numbering about 400 in the wild worldwide, although experts from alligator preservation groups estimate the number at closer to 150.

One of the five critically-endangered animals, among the most endangered crocodilians in the world, was discovered missing. While zoo employees were combing the grounds for the AWOL alligator, the zoo director said he feared the valuable animal may have been stolen.

The missing alligator is between 2 1/2 and 3 feet in length.

At first zoo staff thought the alligator may have got out of the exhibit. They have looked at places it could have hidden inside, but thus far haven't found anything. There was no evidence of a break-in, nor a break-out.

Their only chance of survival is in captive breeding programs, which are going on in the United States and China.

If you have any information, call the zoo at (936) 633-0399, Lufkin Police at (936) 633-0356 or CrimeStoppers at (936) 639-8477.