Gatorland Gatorland Trip Report July 9th 2023

SwampDonkey

In the Swamp
Premium Member
5+ year member
I stopped at Gatorland today for a few hours. Broadly speaking it is about as I remember it, albeit much more hot and crowded. The last time I was here was in November 2020, so some Covid protocols were still in effect and it was much cooler. Some things have changed, they now have a dedicated gallery for their white alligators (both (2) albino and (2) leucitic). The albino are where "Chester" was, if I am not mistaken.

Gatorland is separated into three main sections, the front American Alligator ponds (baby, juvenile, adult), the main walk area where all the small animals, reptiles, and birds are, and the back loop known as "Jungle Crocs of the World" which also has the walkway through the "Breeding Marsh".

The main walkway is fronted on one side by the small animal and white gator exhibits and by the large gator ponds on the other. The large ponds are also where you will also find their American Crocodile, flamingo (American and Chilean), and capybara. The main walkway has a gallery for Snakes of Florida:
  • Pygmy rattlesnake
  • Eastern diamond back rattlesnake (regular (1) and white (2) )
  • Copperhead
  • Florida cottonmouth
Other than snakes you can find the below in this area:
  • Bobcat
  • Macaws and Parrots: Red and green macaw, Blue and yellow macaw, Military macaw, African grey parrot, Cockatoo, Red fronted Amazon
  • American alligator ("Swamp of the White Gator) - Albino, leucitic, regular.

Exhibits along the main walkway are bookended by the show arena on one end and Panther Springs on the other. Panther Springs has a water play are for kids, but is also where the Florida Panther habitat is along with:
  • Florida Panther
  • Aldabra tortoise
  • Burmese python
  • Green iguana
  • Baby American alligators.
This is a newer area and it done pretty nicely, on par with AZA zoos. The panther exhibit is a netted enclosure of very good size, they don't have an adult right now, just juveniles.

On the back loop is where most of the exhibits for the crocs are:
  • Nile (2 ponds)
  • Salt water (3 ponds)
  • Cuban (1 pond),
  • American alligators (1 pond)
All of the habitats here are well done and most have a nice shade cover along the walkway. There is also a kookaburra aviary in front of one of the Salt water crocodile ponds. Between the main walkway and the Jungle Crocs is the very large "Breeding Marsh", which are basically just two large ponds with vegetation covered sides so the alligators can breed. They have 150 adults in that area right now. At the end of the marsh are habitats for domestic cattle and emu.

Speaking of breeding, they are clearly trying to breed salties, Cuban, American (standard and white) as they had signs saying so as well as noticeable nests for the leucitic white and regular alligators.

By and large Gatorland is a lot of fun and I know I will be back at some point. The whole facility is clean and well designed. Gatorland is a big step up from the other "gator" attractions such as Gatorama and Everglades Alligator farm in Florida sure sure.

I will add that it is a bit strange that they don't have any South American crocodilians (with the exception of the American crocodile which ranges that far) - no caimans or Orinoco crocodiles.

If you are in the Orlando area it is definitely worth a stop, but get there early as it gets crowded and in the summer it is very hot.
Front Main Alligator pond:
full


American Crocodile Pond:
full


Flamingo and Capybara (unseen):
full


Snakes of Florida:
full


Swamp of the White Gator - Albino Alligators:
full


Swamp of the White Gator - leucitic:
full

full


Salt Water Crocodile:
full


Cuban Crocodile:
full


Florida Panther habitat:
full
 
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