Saint Augustine
Alligator Farm
Photography by Kathleen and Martin Walls
Article by Kathleen Walls
| Saint Augustine Alligator Farm is known nationwide for its
alligator populations. With the white alligators, it has captured the attention of zoos
everywhere. These unique reptiles are albinos and very rare, in fact, the Alligator Farm
owns all of them in captivity in the U.S. They do lease them out to other zoos.
They differ from leucistic alligators such as the ones in the Audubon Zoo and the
Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans in that these are true albino with pinkish eyes.
The leucistic ones have blue eyes and white pigment. |
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The Alligator Farm has many educational shows
as well as exhibits. Here Jen, one of the trainers, explains about the characistics of
alligators. She explains the truth behind many myths about the reptiles. The shows are
presented so both adults and children enjoy them. |
| Alligators are not the only reptile found at the Farm. These endangered
Indian Gharian are a very rare crocodile found only in rivers and lakes in India. The
Alligator Farm has a large area devoted to crocodiles. |
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This was one of the most memorable crocks ever at the Farm.
Gomek originally came from New Guinea. He died here in March 1997 at an approximate age of
between 80 to 90 years old. He weighed nearly 2,000 lbs. and measured 17'8'' when he died.
You can see a tribute to him at the Alligator Farm. |
| Here's an impressive head shot of the Farm's latest monster crocodile,
Maximo. As the largest animal in the zoo, he measures out at an impressive 15 feet 3
inches and 1250 pounds. He was hatched by Aborigines and came to the zoo at about 30 years
of age. He is expected to live to be 60 to 80 years old. |
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Birds are very much a part of alligator life in the wild. At the
Alligator Farm you can see both captive birds and many wild ones. these ibises are nested
in trees in an area of the farm called The Rookery as so many migrating birds fly through
here. |
| The newest exhibit at the Alligator farm is the Komodo Dragon Exhibit. This is the
largest expansion in the zoo's history and incorporates many creatures from realm of the
saltwater crocodile.
This lace monitor is only one of the many new animals found there. |
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This is another prized animal in the Komondo Dragon exhibit. a Komodo Dragon itself.
Here a trainer, Candace, tries to make friends with the huge lizard. seems she is making
good progress. |
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