Officials were finally able to pull a body from a canal in South Florida after a pair of alligators was found eating the corpse.

Two fishermen in Southwest Ranches, about 20 miles west of Fort Lauderdale, saw the gators eating a human body Monday afternoon and called authorities, according to Davie police.

Police, who responded to the 7000 block of U.S. 27, said the body had likely been in the canal for some time.

"We don’t know how long it’s been here, but it seems they’ve been here for a while," said Davie police Sgt. Pablo Castañeda. "In my time here in Davie, I haven't come across a case where you have alligators getting at the remains."

Florida Fish and Wildlife officials sent alligator trappers to the scene when the gators refused to leave. Officers were able to scare the alligators away from the body but the two lingered as authorities worked to recover it.

Officers with assault rifles were brought in to protect divers who collected evidence and retrieved the body, which has not been identified.

Officers at first weren't able to determine whether the body was a man or woman, but the medical examiner later said it was a man.

The medical examiner is now working to identify the person. Investigators are looking at dental records and missing persons reports, officials said.