Today we went to Insta-Gator, an alligator ranch outside of New Orleans, and the experience was amazing.
On the way there we traversed one of the longest bridges we have ever seen at 38.42 km in length. The bridge crossed Lake Pontchartrain and lead us to the alligator ranch.
When we started the tour we learned a lot about alligators, and more specifically the alligators in Louisiana. We learned, for example, that the alligator ranches and farms in the area are largely responsible for the re-population of alligators in Louisiana. To give you an idea, in the 1960s there were 150,000 gators living in Louisiana. As a result of the repopulation program, there are in excess of 3 million gators in a state of 6 million people. We strongly urge you all to consume as many alligator products as possible.
During this presentation, the guide brought out a small alligator and we all got to pet it and feel its surprisingly soft skin. The hands on demonstrations continued as they then gave us marshmallows to feed the alligators with. They took us into one of the barns and we got to feed the roughly 4 foot long alligators.
Afterward we headed over to a smaller pool where baby alligators were swimming around. They had their mouths taped up and the guide showed us how to pick them up and hold them. This was an amazing experience for all of us and we greatly enjoyed holding the gators, especially as they all had unique personalities. Like Snappy, who had two tape bands on his mouth, because he/she was particularly aggressive. This, coincidentally, was the first alligator i picked up.
After playing with the baby gators, we went back into the barn with the 4 foot alligators and our guide fed the alligators a live mouse. It was quite interesting actually as the mouse swam quite quickly and managed to avoid a few gators before becoming lunch. Then the guide got into one of their pools and caught a gator. Another of the visitors on the tour then taped its mouth shot and we took it outside to take pictures and see one up close.
Videos of both the feeding and the capture will also be forthcoming.
All in all the Gator ranch was and amazing and must-see experience if you're ever in New Orleans.
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