A proud family is caring for some newborns this summer.
Two bouncing baby albino alligators are happily swimming around in the shade at Wild Florida in Kissimmee.
The young family of albinos now numbers six, after four of the very rare pale-skinned alligators were successfully hatched last year.
The parents, mother Snowflake and father Blizzard, are also doing well, cared for in the attraction’s Gator Park.
Wild Florida, off Canoe Creek Road in Kenansville south of St. Cloud, is the only attraction to successfully breed baby albino alligators.
“Many have tried,” Wild Florida co-owner and cofounder Sam Haught said. “To do it twice … the odds are stacked against that.”
Proving “the third time’s the charm,” Snowflake and Blizzard had babies hatch last year after attempts in
2018 and 2019 didn’t pan out, despite producing eggs. The 27-year-old female and 17-year-old male (Quit snickering!) were brought together at Wild Florida, not knowing if they’d get along well enough to mate, and if conditions would be right.
“The health and biology of albinos make this tricky,” Haught said. “The success we’ve had is a testament to the habitat we’ve provided. We know what we’re doing. We’ve got great team members and handle them and control their air and water the best way possible.
“The thing is, they don’t know they’re albinos. Without proper shade, if they stay in the sun they could literally burn to death.”
Last year, 24 eggs produced the first four baby albinos. This year, Wild Florida’s “Croc Squad” collected 18 eggs on April 30 and placed them in an incubator to maintain a controlled, stable environment and increase the chance of successfully hatched eggs.
This year’s hatchlings are expected to be put on exhibit at a later date, joining their four siblings, who at about a year old are already “a little over a foot long,” Haught said.
Next year, Haught hopes Snowball and Blizzard can continue to expand the family.
“We’ll keep trying, we’re thinking Snowball has another year or two of being able to produce eggs,” he said.
