Alligator Farm was established for the purpose of raising
alligators for their hides, and to supply live specimens to shows,
parks and zoological gardens.
The alligator is
indigenous to the swampy parts of the southern states, extending
from the everglades of Florida to southeastern Texas. Owing
to the depredations of the hunter and the demand for his hide the
alligator is rapidly becoming extinct, at least in its natural
haunts. The breeding of alligators in captivity has been
found to be an easy matter when placed in a reproduction of their
natural environs. In the warm and congenial climate of
Southern California the natural and climatic conditions are highly
favorable to the raising of saurians. The Farm consists of
twenty small lakes or swamps where the alligators are kept, owing
to the cannibalistic tendencies they have to be segregated
according to size, the youngsters in one lake, those a little
larger in another, etc.
The alligator lives to
a grand old age, some naturalists say 500 years or more. In
its natural haunts the animal hibernates by burying in the ground
during the cold weather, but here it is warm enough so they do not
bury but can be seen everyday in the year, but partake of no food
during the winter. As the weather warms up in the spring
they begin eating very lightly, becoming ravenous i the hot
summer. The feeding is a very interesting sight, large
pieces of meat are thrown in and a number of alligators will take
hold and begin rolling over and over, in this manner twisting
pieces of the meat off.
The farm is open to
visitors every day in the year, alligators of all sizes from
babies hardly the size of lizards to huge monsters, the nests,
eggs etc. may be seen in a beautiful park. Competent guides
are furnished visitors to give information and explain the life
and habits of these strange creatures, making a visit interesting
and amusing as well as instructive.
A large salesroom is
maintained in connection with the farm where all kinds of leather
goods made from the alligator hide is offered for sale.
One of the most novel
and Interesting Sights in the World. Most Stupendous
Aggregation of Alligators ever exhibited
"OKEECHOBEE" - The
largest Alligator in captivity.
(age about 500 years.)
Here are to be seen
hundreds of Alligators of all sizes, from little babies hardly the
size of a lizard, up to huge monsters 500 years old or more.
The nests, the eggs incubating in the machines, all to be seen in
a beautiful park and miniature lakes, especially adapted for
Should See this
Competent guides are
furnished every visitor to give information and explain all about
the life and habits of these strange creatures, making your visit
intensely interesting and amusing, as well as instructive.
given DAILY at 4 p.m. Trained Alligators "shooting the
chutes." hypnotizing Alligators, and illustrating the methods of
catching wild Alligators.
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