Alligators are taking over Water Country USA. If you’ve visited the park this year, you may have noticed Conservation Cove, the new alligator exhibit near the park entrance. Five gators can now be seen on exhibit all day. Throughout the day, you may also get the chance to see one up close when we bring one out for guest interactions and photos. Some of you may have already met Henry. He’s been living at Water Country USA since the park opened this spring.
On June 14, he was joined by four more gators that came to us from Busch Gardens Tampa. Several months ago Henry came to live at Busch Gardens after being confiscated from someone’s home. Believe it or not, someone was trying to keep him as a pet. This is a very bad idea for many reasons (besides being illegal). Although baby alligators are very little and cute, they grow up to be very big. Males are typically around 14 feet long and about 500 pounds but can even reach up to 1,000 pounds. Females will be a bit smaller. They are also long-lived animals. They can live to be more than 50 years old in human care.
American alligators have a wonderful success story. They are one of the only species to be downgraded from endangered to threatened. This was made possible because of legal protection and conservation efforts, like those supported by the SeaWorld Busch Gardens Conservation Fund. They are mostly thought of as inhabiting Florida and Louisiana but can be found along the south east coast as far north as North Carolina.
Stop by Conservation Cove at Water Country USA this summer to learn more about these amazing animals and to see them up close!
