Feeding the alligators!! What is wrong with this picture??

[billethkid]

On the front page of today's "happy paper" there is a picture of tourists inside the feeding area with a large number of alligators....feeding them.
Including small children as close as the length of an alligator.

Does not seem consistent with warnings about feeding such dangerous wild animals.

I was impressed (not a positive statement!) with such proximity with so many gators.

Maybe I missed something.
Having seen alligators being fed by care takers I cannot imagine they would allow tourists to do so at such close range.

Did it make an impact on anybody else?
Does it not look like a dangerous situation?

[geofitz13]

My wife and I couldn't believe the picture. Whoever allowed this is an idiot.

[Bjeanj]

I had the same reaction. What’s wrong with them??

[Tom C]

... but.. but.. but, there is clearly a line in the sand (if you look very closely). I am sure the alligators won't cross that! (Sarc!)

I agree, it does not send the right message. Everyone should be careful around all wildlife (gators, large birds, snakes, raccoons and coyotes - to name a few). I don't favor feeding any of these (including the birds).

[New Englander]

I had the same reaction. What’s wrong with them??

Stupidity.

[villagetinker]

I agree with all of the comments above, could not believe the picture, and I am sure to NOT be going to GatorLand with the grand kids when they come down....

[CWGUY]

:loco: Called thinning the herd! :rolleyes:

[hoopsterdad]

already posted that pic on my facebook page. asking the same questions as everyone else.

[Velvet]

Collective IQ lower than a toad’s ass.... as we say in my native country.

[Carla B]

Not a fan of alligators anyway; now for sure Gatorland is not a destination.

[billethkid]

Not a fan of alligators anyway; now for sure Gatorland is not a destination.

How about the reporter and the editor that made it the front page center piece?

[tophcfa]

Agree, as soon as I saw the picture I said to myself WT ?????? At least it looked as though there were a couple of trained gator handlers that were watching over the situation, but still?

[Spoiler]

I looked at that picture several times to see if I was missing the fence that must have been there somewhere... but dang, there wasn't one... :shocked:

[rjn5656]

Have been to gatorland, but never saw anything like that there.

[Taltarzac725]

One of the people seems to be an alligator wrestler with a stun gun or something like that. Still it looked like a trial attorney's dream. A lot could go wrong very very fast.

[Bay Kid]

You can't fix stupid. No way!

[missypie]

Thought the exact thing other posters have said. Again, what is wrong with these parents? Lets allow our chilcren to become bait. Sick photo.

[bluedivergirl]

I see a guy with some kind of rod ~ there is no way he could control those alligators. There are too many of them. IMO, that photo is nuts, and should never have been published.

I live on Evans Prairie. We hear and see gators all year long, including some really big boys. They are fast ~ lightening fast, and they can climb.

This picture makes alligators seem less dangerous, and encourages interaction. Just plain wrong.

[valuemkt]

Never underestimate the intelligence of the American public .. Reminds me of people that thought a Friday night out was going to the local dump to feed the "dump" bears ..

[karostay]

Not a fan of alligators anyway; now for sure Gatorland is not a destination.

Don't know what your missing
Their great deep fried :mmmm:

[justjim]

Could you post the photo for those of us who don’t currently have a copy? Thanks.

[justjim]

Never mind - got it! Looks dumb to me.

[John_W]

Could you post the photo for those of us who don’t currently have a copy? Thanks.

An alligator is capable of short bursts of 30 mph. I've seen it in person on the golf course once when a worker walked up two feet from a gator and the gator took for the nearest pond about 40 yards away. The worker was a young guy and ran very fast but couldn't grab the tail of that gator. Why he wanted to, I don't know, maybe he was as dumb as the people in the photo.

The Villages Daily Sun (http://www.thevillagesdailysun.com/news/villages/tourists-search-out-their-favorite-florida/article_3ce962f8-e265-11e9-bea4-8b75555f175e.html)

https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/thevillagesdailysun.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/bc/6bc79248-e265-11e9-a4bb-93a11f5e4150/5d901eab98d25.image.jpg?resize=750%2C567

[Topspinmo]

On the front page of today's "happy paper" there is a picture of tourists inside the feeding area with a large number of alligators....feeding them.
Including small children as close as the length of an alligator.

Does not seem consistent with warnings about feeding such dangerous wild animals.

I was impressed (not a positive statement!) with such proximity with so many gators.

Maybe I missed something.
Having seen alligators being fed by care takers I cannot imagine they would allow tourists to do so at such close range.

Did it make an impact on anybody else?
Does it not look like a dangerous situation?

The only thing I’m going to feed a pea brain gator is lead.:ohdear:

[tophcfa]

Don't know what your missing
Their great deep fried :mmmm:

Tried it before, nothing special, tasted like chicken.

[BobnBev]

I don't know why the state doesn't shut them down. It's against the law in FL to feed alligators.:boom:

[anothersteve]

I don't know why the state doesn't shut them down. It's against the law in FL to feed alligators.:boom:

Gatorland is licensed by the state.
Quite the attraction!

Site Map | Gatorland | Orlando Florida Family Adventure Theme Park (https://www.gatorland.com/site-map/)

Steve

[Kilmacowen]

I remember a few years ago, a child was attacked and killed at Disney. Can't understand these parents.

[Number 10 GI]

If you want to understand the stupidity you encounter in this country watch the movie "Idiocracy". You should be able to find it on Netflix and others.

[BobnBev]

Gatorland is licensed by the state.
Quite the attraction!

Site Map | Gatorland | Orlando Florida Family Adventure Theme Park (https://www.gatorland.com/site-map/)

Steve

I wonder who they paid off to get that license? Regardless, It's not a place I would visit, too many other things to do.:popcorn:

[fishon]

One responder has stated that they have not seen that situation at Gatorland.
Can the Daily Sun be trusted to publish an actual photograph taken recently at Gatorland and not some unknown file photo?

[Henryk]

I see a guy with some kind of rod ~ there is no way he could control those alligators. There are too many of them. IMO, that photo is nuts, and should never have been published.

I live on Evans Prairie. We hear and see gators all year long, including some really big boys. They are fast ~ lightening fast, and they can climb.

This picture makes alligators seem less dangerous, and encourages interaction. Just plain wrong.

Would kindly explain "hearing" gators? What sound do they make?

[Nucky]

Would kindly explain "hearing" gators? What sound do they make?

Spectacular Alligator Mating Display | Animal Super Senses | BBC Earth - YouTube (https://youtu.be/SlLuC7257pc) I really like watching Swamp People and they did have a guy named Willie who mand Alligator Sounds to attract other gators. Here is a similar sound. Excuse the man's poor human language. FLORIDA MAN attracts 3 GATORS by making baby gator sounds - YouTube (https://youtu.be/mxwZpkei6zI)

[anothersteve]

I wonder who they paid off to get that license? Regardless, It's not a place I would visit, too many other things to do.:popcorn:

Gatorland has been here since '49
Steve

[BobnBev]

Gatorland has been here since '49
Steve

I've been here since '41, and I still won't go there.:icon_bored::eek::rolleyes:

[villagetinker]

One responder has stated that they have not seen that situation at Gatorland.
Can the Daily Sun be trusted to publish an actual photograph taken recently at Gatorland and not some unknown file photo?

I sent a comment directly to gatorland about the photo and all of the negative comments.

[John_W]

All you have to do is rub a gator under the chin.

Twitter (https://twitter.com/i/status/1178696364798038016)

[Velvet]

I sent a comment directly to gatorland about the photo and all of the negative comments.

The only really valuable response, should have thought of it myself.

[karostay]

Tried it before, nothing special, tasted like chicken.
Chicken taste like frogs legs

[bagboy]

Gatorland has been here since '49
Steve

And it appears their safety record has been impeccable. One zip line malfunction, noone injured or eaten.

[BobnBev]

I sent a comment directly to gatorland about the photo and all of the negative comments.

Will you let us know their reply? :pray:

[villagetinker]

Will you let us know their reply? :pray:

So far there has been NO reply...... I will follow up if i ever get one.

[PrudentLifer]

I'll not take my grandchildren to Gatorland if this is in fact a current Gatorland practice. Totally irresponsible if true.

[bluedivergirl]

Would kindly explain "hearing" gators? What sound do they make?

In the spring, mating season, they grunt. Like a gigantic bullfrog.

The rest of the year, we hear them hunting. They have a distinctive splash and roll noise. The bigger the gator, the bigger the roll splash.