Designing a Reptile Park, Have a ?

LizardInsanity

LizardInsanity

Well-Known Member
I am designing a reptile park and plan on adding in an alligator show. It would include the normal alligator wrestling,as well as demonstrating some target training and health check behaviors, but I searched alligator training and I found this:

http://www.image-archeology.com/All...tes_Alligator_Farm_Los_Angeles_California.jpg

I was wondering,If you could make the slide less steep, and add in positive rewards, could this be done today in a modern park?Do you think it would get bad publicity or good?I have the first part of the park planed out in a kind of "walk through tour" way if you would like me to show it too you"
 
Why do you want to have alligator wrestling? It's not necessary, and it looks cruel and stressful for the animals.
 
Not so much wrestling,as I meant restraining.Like jumping the gator,taping its mouth,legs,and tail,and then releasing it back into the water.
 
LizardInsanity said:
Not so much wrestling,as I meant restraining.Like jumping the gator,taping its mouth,legs,and tail,and then releasing it back into the water.
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I think the question would still stand...."why?"
 
Entertainment...it is in no way cruel to the animals and won't happen often only on occasion to reduce stress on the animals.

For the property I was thinking about Crandon Park Zoo as a viable choice. It is in Miami so the reptiles would have a choice to be outside year round.Also their is still some structures that could be saved and refurbishes,either as show or for reptiles ( the small size is horrible for large mammals,but some of the smaller ones would make perfect monitor cages if repaired).Also, in the gallery it shows wild iguanas and sandhill cranes that would be cool to have free roaming.

Also, I was wondering if anybody had any information on the reptile fauna of the Lesser Sunda islands?When you search it,most of it is Komodo Dragons...Thanks :)
 
Sorry, but unless you are doing it for valid reasons (such as moving an animal, for treatment, etc) jumping on them and tying them up is not acceptable in my opinion. If you want to demonstrate how to restrain them, you could use a dummy.
 
First of all, the slide link that you posted, seems unnecessary and ridiculous. An alligator or crocodile sliding from that height is unnatural. Secondly, I agree with Rowan in that the wrestling of animals is cruel. I also want to point out that animals are not kept in captivity to be used as entertainment. This sounds like something that would be found at a circus. I think that this reptile park idea of yours is a nice idea but leave out everything that would be done for entertainment purposes.
 
I have the greatest respect for this Forum and the accumulated knowledge represented here...that said, it is very worrisome every time I see a post by someone who says they are starting some animal park and are asking here for information and directions on how to treat or house or exhibit the animals.

If you don't have the expertise or cannot bring the needed expertise onto your management team, then stay out of the business! This is a public forum. The majority of members are still in grade school!

This cannot go well for the animals.
 
I accepted all the criticism, and I have scratched the wrestling and slide behaviors.
I am and 8th grade,and am just messing around with some ideas.In no way is any animal being treated cruelly.

However, I would like to know why having a show at the park for entertainment would be a bad thing.Many zoos and aquariums have bird shows,orca shows,dolphin shows,big cat shows,etc.Obviously the main idea of the park is conservation,but conservation can't be fun for the public?After all,the majority of mainstream zoo visitors are at the zoo for entertainment...

I have reduced the behaviors in the show to target hitting and feeding, like the Crocoseum at Australia Zoo.I would also like to show other animals with cool behaviors that might not be able to be expressed in their enclosures ex. basilisk running across water.
 
Nothing wrong with putting on shows, but it has to be done with great care for the animals. I've not had the chance to visit the Crocoseum myself, but as I understand it from what I've seen shown on TV they hold a number of crocs in pools and give them access to the show area on rotation: the crocs have the option of refusing to leave their pools if they don't fancy putting on a show in return for some food. Different crocs also display different behaviors according to their temperaments. It's not just target hitting and feeding: I've seen film of them demonstrating death rolls and and how a croc can stalk under water and lunge onto land. The crocs get a 'hunt' for their food, which is good for them.

Good luck with your dream. Just remember a good show is one that provides enrichment for the animals, not just a fake spectacle for the onlookers.
 
Just a quick note,,I read a bit in one of the original posts about free roaming sand hill cranes. We have two at the zoo I work for. That species is one of the most aggressive of birds, and free roaming will and can (I have a scar on my hand to prove this) cause serious injuries..

In the mean time, do tons of research and go volunteer at a reptile park near you to gain all the experience you can! good luck with your venture!
 
Sandhill Cranes are native to Florida and are year round residents - they are not just free-roaming.
 
I think it is important to mention that the main purpose of an animal show should be to demonstrate natural behaviors that an animal would normally do.
 
I am inclined to agree with everyone alligator wrestling is simply another phrase for human dominance display.
As for putting an alligator on a slide I think thats stupid beyond words!

If I was in your position I would include feeding (jumping out of the water to get food)
target training to show that they aren't mindless and to allow them to be veiwed on land to get a sense of scale . maybe show there jaw stregnth by using a pressure pad and comparing it to a humans jaw stregnth .
once there on the land you can discuss there anatomy.

Alligator wrestling isnt really needed as a form of restraint they can be trained to enter crates on command so showing that would be far more impressive in my books
 
littlezoo said:
In the mean time...go volunteer at a reptile park near you to gain all the experience you can!
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Or at any mainstream zoo that has reptiles. Most have reptiles and small mammals that volunteers can handle to demonstrate to the public. Even the small Reid Park Zoo where I volunteer, which does NOT have a reptile house, still has a few snakes and lizards and young tortoises for docents and teen volunteers to use as education animals.
 
Thanks for all the advice again.

I have a good bit of experience with lizards,aquatic turtles,and some snakes.I plan on seeing if I can volunteer at a local attraction called Jim Mack's Ice Cream,Mini Golf,and Mini Zoo.They have black bear,llama,emu,white tailed deer,goats,sheep,turkey,and the usual other live stock.Another option is ZooAmerica in Hershey that has a good bit of reptiles (American Crocodile,American Alligator,Gila Monster,Snakes,Tortoises,Etc) and other exotics
 
LizardInsanity said:
Thanks for all the advice again.

I have a good bit of experience with lizards,aquatic turtles,and some snakes.I plan on seeing if I can volunteer at a local attraction called Jim Mack's Ice Cream,Mini Golf,and Mini Zoo.They have black bear,llama,emu,white tailed deer,goats,sheep,turkey,and the usual other live stock.Another option is ZooAmerica in Hershey that has a good bit of reptiles (American Crocodile,American Alligator,Gila Monster,Snakes,Tortoises,Etc) and other exotics
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Since you are lucky enough to be about 14 years old, get lots of experience!
In college you can work/volunteer at other places. After that work at the best place you can.
Meet lots of professionals and make good contacts.
They will be VERY helpful to you later.

Once you do open this place, you will be its slave until you walk away from it. Better learn and live before that happens :D
 
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