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How can I visit Gatorland®? [Back to Top]

Gatorland®,Orlando’s only theme park with Bite and Attitude, is located at 14501 South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando, just 8 miles south of the Florida Mall. We are just minutes from the major attractions. Click to get park directions and a map.

What kind of fun things can I do at Gatorland®? [Back to Top]

The whole family can enjoy the natural Florida experience at Gatorland®, the Alligator Capital of the World[tm]. Whether you are watching the amazing shows, getting up close and personal with our residents in the Barnyard petting zoo, feeding a lorikeet in the Very Merry Aviary, cooling off at Lilly's Pad mini water park or viewing the alligator breeding marsh and wild bird sanctuary on the self-guided Swamp Walk, you are certain to fill a half day with lots of fascinating animal experiences that this low tech attraction offers. Listen for the call of *All Aboard* as Gatorland's train ride makes trips around the park.

How can I contact someone at Gatorland®? [Back to Top]

You can call us at 1-800-393-JAWS, or direct your email to someone specific in our company directory. We're always ready to answer a question or help you make the most of your Gatorland® experience.

How many alligators are there at Gatorland®? [Back to Top]

At one time, when Gatorland® was also a working alligator farm, there were six thousand alligators in the park. Right now there are a hundred and thirty alligators on the Breeding Marsh, several hundred adult animals in the front lake areas and another several hundred young alligators in the display pools and the nursery for a total of over one thousand alligators at Gatorland®, the Alligator Capital of the World[tm]!

How many crocodiles are there at Gatorland®? [Back to Top]

There are about two hundred crocodiles at Gatorland®, with new additions to the family being hatched every year.

How big is the biggest alligator or crocodile in the park? [Back to Top]

The biggest alligator can be found in our main lake, and is about 14.5 feet long. The biggest crocodile in the park is Alf, an American crocodile (C. acutus) who was last measured at a little over 14 feet long. Alf is probably the biggest American crocodile in captivity. Gatorland® also has a saltwater crocodile named Morton who is nearly 12 feet long at less than 10 years old. This species (C. porosus) has been known to grow over 20 feet long and live more than fifty years, so Morton has an excellent head start and a good chance at becoming a record animal.

How long does an alligator or crocodile live? [Back to Top]

Scientists think that crocodilians can live about as long as people if they have a good diet and environment. The oldest documented crocodile on record was 77 years old, but it is certainly possible that they can live longer than that. Gatorland® has some alligators in the park that are at least 50 years old and possibly much older.

How old are the gators in the pools by the snack bar? [Back to Top]

The little ones in the pool are 2 years old, and they love to be fed by visitors. The photo gators that you can hold and touch are 2 to 3 years old. Remember, you cannot feed or hold baby alligators in the wild. It is only safe and legal to do so with the captive alligators at Gatorland®. Click here to learn more about being Gator Safe.

Are those alligators real? Do they move? [Back to Top]

Yes, all the alligators and crocodiles at Gatorland® are real, except for the carved models in the gift shop, the realistic gator jaw model at the photo booth and the plexiglass model sitting on the front walkway. Alligators and crocodiles do not move very much when the weather is cold, and may sit in one position for hours at a time. You may think they are lazy, but actually they are very efficient. They must conserve their energy until the temperature warms up and they are able to hunt and eat. However, if you toss some food in front of them while they are in the water, you will probably see some motion pretty quick!

Why does that alligator have a missing foot or leg? [Back to Top]

Gatorland®'s breeding marsh and lake areas are basically natural Florida habitat for the alligators, except that they get to eat a lot more often than they probably would in the wild. Male alligators fight fiercely during mating season in territorial disputes. As long as they are kept in natural social groups for breeding, there will be some fights and some alligators will end the mating season with serious scars or even missing limbs.

Fortunately these animals are very well adapted to this situation, as it has been going on for millions of years. The loss of a limb to a crocodilian is a much less serious matter than it would be to a mammal, since they can automatically cut off circulation to the area to stop bleeding, and powerful antibiotic compounds in their blood work to prevent infection. They can survive very well with injuries that would easily kill a mammal. However, missing limbs do not regenerate as they might in a lizard.

Click to find out more about the healing properties of crocodile blood.

Where is the best place to feed the gators at Gatorland®? [Back to Top]

You can feed the gators anywhere in the park, but probably the most exciting place is the Observation Tower in the Breeding Marsh. Dozens of alligators may be swarming at any time, waiting for you to throw them a piece of hot dog.

If you are wondering why we use hot dogs, these are actually a low fat, high protein turkey or chicken based product that is good for the gators.

Why do you feed the alligators hot dogs? What else do they eat? [Back to Top]

The hot dogs you can buy at the Bait Shack to feed the alligators are actually a low fat, high protein turkey or chicken based product. They are quite healthy for the alligators as a treat to supplement their main diet of chicken, red meat and fish. There are plenty of fish in the lake for them to catch and eat whenever they like. If you are lucky, you will see some of this exciting action at Gatorland®. Try casting some fish food (available from lakeside vending machines) in the water. One of the resident alligators might just take advantage of the opportunity when the fish gather around.

Click to find out more about feeding the alligators at Gatorland®.

In the wild, alligators eat insects, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, shellfish, fish, birds and occasionally other alligators.

How deep is the water in the front lake and the Breeding Marsh? [Back to Top]

The Breeding Marsh at its deepest is about 10 feet. The average depth of the main lake is about 2 feet, though some areas are as deep as 5 feet.

We don't recommend swimming or wading however.

How do you tell the difference between a gator and a croc? [Back to Top]

Crocodiles have a narrower, V-shaped snout while alligators have a broad, flat snout shaped more like a U. Another differences is in the teeth. Alligators actually have more than most crocodiles, but crocodile teeth usually stick out further from the jaw and are more visible. In particular look for the fourth tooth that sticks out from the underside of a crocodile's jaw and fits into a neat dent or depression on the top side of its snout.

In the photo you see here, the animal to the upper right is an American crocodile, and the animal on the bottom left is the alligator. These two species coexist naturally in the wild, and are allowed to remain together in the main lake at Gatorland®.

For more information and pictures, visit the What's The Difference? page.

Where do all the alligators at Gatorland® come from? [Back to Top]

Many of the younger alligators were captive born or harvested from the wild as eggs through the State of Florida egg harvesting program. The larger alligators were either captive born at Gatorland® or collected from the wild in local areas decades ago. Occasionally nusiance gators are trapped and brought in.

Can I go feed wild alligators like I fed the ones at Gatorland®? [Back to Top]

No, it is illegal to feed alligators in the wild. There are some good reasons for this. A wild alligator that gets used to being fed by humans loses its natural fear of people and may approach them too closely expecting food. This can be very dangerous. An alligator that approaches people is usually caught and put to death as a nusiance gator.

If you feed an alligator in the wild, you are putting other people at risk and probably condemning the alligator to death. You also risk jail times and expensive fines. Please stay Gator Safe and do not feed alligators in the wild.

What kinds of birds can I see at Gatorland®? [Back to Top]

Lots! On the Breeding marsh and around the main lake, you can see many wading birds and occasionally raptors. Here's a partial list:

Anhingas or snakebirds - These are the dark brown birds you see stretching their wings out to dry after a deep dive for fish.

Gallinule or swamp hen - The small, ducklike black birds with red wattles on their beaks are gallinules.

Great Blue Heron - If you see a bird with a yellow numbered tag on its wing, this is a tagged Great Blue Heron wearing a radio transmitter. They are being monitored by satellite for a research program.

White Ibis - With a white or brown-mottled body and a long, curved scarlet beak , the ibis was a sacred bird to the Egyptians.

Great Egret - The tall, snowy white birds stalking majestically around the boardwalks and occasionally sitting on an alligator back are Great Egrets.

Wood Stork - A long greyish black beak and a wrinkled grey head and neck characterize this white-feathered Gatorland® native.

To see even more birds, visit the Virtual Zoo.

When was Gatorland® first opened? [Back to Top]

Gatorland® was first opened in 1949 by the late Owen Godwin, with just a few hundred dollars and a lot of hard work and determination. Owen, along with his wife, Pearl, turned a small alligator pond into what is today one of Florida's leading nature attractions. Owen tracked the world on many safaris in search of exhibit animals and trophies for his collection. From that humble beginning with a handful of alligators and a few pens with huts made with cypress poles and thatched roofs, Gatorland® slowly took shape into one of the world's largest alligator attractions, the Alligator capital of the world![tm]