After a busy Sunday I slid onto our leather sofa with the intent of finding a thirty minute show to watch for mindless entertainment. What I found instead was a reality type show called Gator Boys.
Animal Planet's Gator Boys in Action
Nuisance alligators in South Florida neighborhoods are not new and, although I’ve seen other shows where gutsy individuals go out and capture them, this one was different.
When one of the Gator Boys donned a wetsuit, snorkel and mask and entered the water in the Sunday night episode, I was truly taken aback. I have never seen or heard of anyone going underwater to trap an alligator. What if that gator is 10 feet or more? He can eat you, or rather clamp on to you and take you on a death roll that I’m pretty sure you won’t survive; that is unless he has clamped on to a limb and rips it off during the roll, and you manage to get away and receive medical attention pronto!
The Gator Boys capture these nuisance alligators then take them back to their park where they perform shows for visitors. I don’t know about everyone else, but I think taunting alligators for a live audience (and for money) is pathetic. Maybe you can learn something about the creatures this way, but why not learn from biologists out in the field, or in a natural habitat for “lost” gators? Why should animals be slaves to humans thirst for entertainment?
Since development has so encroached on nature that we have alligators in our backyards, it’s no wonder we need services like those offered by the Gator Boys. Now if only they would find a place to release those beloved gators, I might become a true fan.
Hey my friend…I actually saw this same episode and was fascinated by their “endeavors” as well.
The Gator Boys capture these nuisance alligators then take them back to their park where they perform shows for visitors. I don’t know about everyone else, but I think taunting alligators for a live audience (and for money) is pathetic. Maybe you can learn something about the creatures this way, but why not learn from biologists out in the field, or in a natural habitat for “lost” gators? Why should animals be slaves to humans thirst for entertainment?
Okay, first of all you are ignorant. The only reason they do those shows is to make money to keep their park open for these poor animals. They get lost and end up in peoples backyards which is dangerous and people call to get them removed. Those type of people that catch them use harmful methods such as using a hook and line that tears their skin. Then once they catch them they kill them and sell their meat and skin for money because they are greedy. Not because they want to help these animals in beautiful healthy exhibits such as the Gator Boys.
Hi Evelina. You have the right to your opinion, just as I do. My usage of the word “pathetic” may have been too harsh and judgemental but I still don’t agree with the offering of shows. If people really want to see wild animals, they need to make the effort to see them in their natural habitat. I have a fear of drowning yet I learned to scuba dive just so I could see wild dolphins, whales and sharks in the wild. The Sea Worlds and Alligator Farms of the world need to stop pandering to lazy humans. And humans need to stop enslaving wild animals for their own entertainment. That’s all I’m saying. The Gator Boys are providing a great service and I wish them well in that respect. Hopefully their television show will provide enough funds and they can stop exploiting their catches.