CHOMPER'S EPIC BIRTHDAY BASH
Alligators are my passion and one true love. I treat them like my kids. I read books to them, reenact movies for them, and even sing to them. I even put a hot dog in my mouth and let George the gator bite it out of my mouth in the deadliest recreation of "lady and the tramp sharing spaghetti noodle" ever!!!
I have been working with gators for 25 years. I work at an attraction in Florida.
Some ask why are the gators so calm with you?
The gators are seemingly calm because of the bond I have developed with them. Like I said I sing to them, I spend my Holidays with them, and they are like my kids. So that is part of it. But I am not naive enough to think they wouldnt hurt me. They are alligators, predators.
A lot of it has to do with reading their body language and figuring out who is in a good mood that day and would cooperate with the filming. 25 years experience has helped my develop the skills needed to try to interpret their body language and behaviours. But sometimes, they still surprise me!
All my gators are rescued from gator farms. They were inteneded and born to be wallets and boots and I saved them from that fate and maybe deep down somehow instinctively they know????
Plus I dont wrestle my gators, everytime they see me they usually get fed or some type of positive reinforcement. I am like the grandma who always has candy and gifts. So all those reasons add up to why we work well together.
When I first began working with gators I was taught to jump on them and catch them. I was bitten quite a few times doing that. But since I stopped doing that and focused on training the gators, and truly developing a relationship and understanding their behaviour I have not been bitten. Have I had any close calls? Yes. But I have close calls driving too so that is part of living!
These alligators ONLY fate is to either be killed and made into leather products OR be cared for at a captive facility. I put my soul into giving them the best care possible and living optimum lives. I will NOT EVER "wrestle" them or jump on their back and do "tricks." I care too much about my gators for that and I dont want people to be impressed with what I can do. I want them too "ooh" and "ahh" and be amazed with what the gators can do.
One last thing I want to make clear: I do what I do so people have a positive view on gators and like and love them a little bit more. Gators have a bad reputation but if you saw a fun entertaining video where a gator made you smile and forget about your problems for a minute, then maybe you will like gators more... Maybe even donate to conservation. Its all about my passion for the gators and conservation as opposed to "look what I can do" ...the typical attitude of most gator demonstrations.
Just like Babe Ruth was born to play baseball, Michael Jordon to play basketball, and Luke Skywalker was born to save the galaxy; I was born to spread the news about how beautiful and amazing alligators are: a true "Gator Crusader"!
Michael
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