Australian Reptile Park Staff Rescue Alligator Eggs

Posted By : The Animal Facts Editorial Team

Date: December 28, 2020 9:59 pm

alligator nest raids Australian Reptile Park

An American alligator at the Australian Reptile Park

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

Keepers at the Australian Reptile Park have put their life on the line as they raid the American alligator nests at the park to protect them and ensure the safe hatching of the juveniles.

The lagoon at the Australian Reptile Park is home to 35 American alligators and overnight Betty the alligator laid a clutch of 15 eggs which keepers discovered this morning. Native to swamps and wetlands in the southern United States alligator eggs are not designed to withstand the 40oC temperatures which will be common in Australia over the coming months.

Juveniles are also preyed upon by adult alligators which is another reason keepers remove the eggs from the nest.

Staff during the alligator nest raids at the Australian Reptile Park

Photo Credit: Australian Reptile Park

Staff at the Reptile Park will incubate the eggs during their 70 day incubation period. The Australian Reptile Park is home to Australia’s largest population of American alligators and this will increase soon when these eggs hatch.

Keepers must be very careful when they go to remove the eggs. They must wrangle and restrain the alligator as females are highly protective of their eggs. Once she is safely restrained they can safely remove the eggs.

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Commenting on the process Daniel Rumsey, head of reptiles at the Australian Reptile Park added, “One slightly off step out of place can cost you, so we are very careful to follow a well-thought-out plan and ensure the protective mother is well restrained and doing okay herself. Once we let her go, we also monitor her for the rest of the day to ensure she has not been distressed. We have a few more female alligators looking to be gravid (holding eggs) so it could be a busy summer for us!”