They dont like you because you tell the truth and the truth hurts. I think that you are both totally right. They arent pets and should never be treated as such. We respect you so much for speaking your truth ❤
It's also hurting their bottom dollar. When you argue they shouldn't be making a living off what they're doing, they're going to be upset, which then begs the question: WHO in their life enabled this behavior and told them it's okay?
@@Jake38nine i agree, it all starts with the proper education and changes in the law. If they have relaxed laws, then these poor crocs/alligators are the ones who suffer, some people lack the knowledge in proper care and husbandry. All states need the same laws really. Then certain unscrupulous people who do it for the money and not the welfare of the beautiful dinosaurs cant make a buck out of it.
It’s horrible that people think reptiles don’t deserve the same care and respect as mammals, I saw your post on Instagram Gabby and I completely agree. It boils my blood that people keep these wild animals as pets for themselves without caring about the animals health
not enough people like these two gems sharing their wisdom tbh! I had the opportunity to buy some bearded dragons about 10 years ago.. I get there, they ask if I want snakes as well, they already have their box, hide etc.. I said for no extra charge? sure! I at that point went from 1 dog, to 2 bearded dragons and 4 snakes(looked just like tick tok, ball pythons) for a while things went well.. then I bought aspen bedding, and where they stayed, the humidity must have gotten too much for them and 3 ended up passing within a week before I had any idea why..(the aspen bedding creates a lot of moisture which is terrible for them to breathe in apparently) then one of my beardies had a big growth on her back.. (improper lighting) all my fault that these animals went through what they did, because it was that easy to get them.. I ended up having the beardies for 7 years, as 1 slowly deteriorated.. then the other I am convinced passed from loneliness about 6 months later or so.. I tried to learn as much as I could, but from bad teachers on YT to some general negligence because I couldnt afford some of the upkeep of the bulbs, etc, it got out of hand .. had i known that you need a good amount of money, time, dedication and care to help these little guys, I likely would have either just stuck with the beardies, or not gotten them in the first place.. these guys are life savers for this generation, I am convinced!
Reptiles have the anatomy to feel pain, they also demonstrate painful behavior AND respond to pain medication. Considering this, and knowing how painful arthritis is in people, elephants, horses, dogs, cats etc, we know that Albert the alligator is in pain. If this was a leopard gecko or a beardie suffering from MBD, a veterinarian would certainly discuss euthanasia as an ethical option. I say this with confidence as a tech and husbandry consultant for a small animal and exotic hospital.
Thank you so much for the genuine, respectful discussion - including the disagreement! I always look forward to hearing your perspectives and appreciate the knowledge you pass along to us 😊
I had so many people become enraged on posts about this situation because I merely said alligators are not pets. All these armchair experts, people from the community saying that they knew better about alligator health than fish and wildlife 🙄 I remember seeing your older video on his subject (Paucho the crocodile) and tried to explain it to them but it was a lost cause. It's nuts how many people think they know better than people who actually do.
Any respectable alligator person that knows anything about these animals will say the same exact thing that we are saying. If the general public that is misguided.
100% agree. Apex predators are not pets. I love crocodilians, I would LOVE to have one as a pet, I see Chris' interactions with Casper and my heart melts, I want nothing more than to just boop his little snoot. But I do not believe crocodilians can be ethically kept as a pet. Their space and dietary needs are so complex, only experts should keep them in captivity.
Once, my wife and I went to our local Publix to get some food, and outside at the doors of the store was a man trying to get donations for his animal sanctuary. Whether it was legitimate or not, I didn't know. He had some of his animals there, and what was shocking to the both of us was the fact that his approximately 7 or 8 year old daughter was sitting inside a medium sized dog kennel, the kind that is made of metal, not the molded plastic ones. She had a small dog in her lap, and in front of her was about a 3 foot gator head to tail. If that gator, even at that size decided to exhibit some wild behavior, that little and the girl would not have had any way to escape it. The little girl acting as if she wasn't frightened in the least, but who would take a chance like that with their own daughter or even a little dog. I agree with both of you about kids and wild animals. It's good to let them touch wild animals and learn about them for the purpose of learning how to respect them and how to properly interact with them (or not to interact with them at all). However, along with this familiarization, children must be taught that no matter how much they may think a know a particular animal, they must always be prepared for that animal to act like animal.
I've always wondered about the cause of MBD in captive gators. It's so weird. Especially given what Gabby was speaking on in regards to how once baby gator will do fine in the wild, with no MBD, but if you take another baby gator from the same clutch(or even its "twin" or a clone), and raise it in captivity, but outdoors in natural bodies of water, with natural sunlight, feed it a varied diet like whole fish/chicken/rodents, other types of meat, that Mazuri croc show, etc., the latter will still have some level of MBD. I wonder if it has something to do with the gators inability to travel to different places and bodies of water, or perhaps some mineral that wild crocs obtain by consuming some of the mud/soil in their natural waterways, or something to do with gastroliths, and how they help break down their food, perhaps a lack of fish in their diets(since fish is the primary food source of crocodilians in general), or maybe living in captivity they so rarely have to do anything physical, which could cause the bones to not be as strong, not having to hunt, and shake their heads from side to side to break off smaller bites, or perhaps it has something to do with their limited opportunities when it comes to thermoregulating while in captivity, etc. I hope they figure it out, because it's actually pretty sad, especially when you see a big, old, gorgeous(or at least would be gorgeous under normal circumstances), etc. with such severe presentations of the disease, preventing it from simply opening its mouth, or even just moving around due to the kinks or other problems in its spine. Reminds me of the poor little gator that was kept in a small box for like 20 years or something until Emily from Snake Discovery rescued it. Unfortunately the damage was already done. It's upper jaw/snout also curves upwards significantly(though with proper care that has actually gotten better over time), and this decades old gator looks like a 2-3 year old gator.
It probably has to do with not being fed whole prey that’s not been frozen and/or cooked. Freezing and cooking destroys enzymes and bacteria that help animals digest. Pottenger’s Cats Experiment shows us the ramifications of cooked food and milk.
Thank you for speaking the truth about having alligators as exotic pets. Apex predators like alligators don’t belong in someone’s basement and seeing that obese alligator that could barely open his mouth was very heartbreaking. I believe the truth should come out no matter how painful it is and you should let people make their own decisions about how they handle the truth. You two are very brave and very inspirational! Thank you!
Thank you for NOT holding back and giving us your honest thoughts, I 100% Agree I'm NOT a peta activist NOR do I support them but The Animals needs need to come first yeah the owner may love his animal but the animal ISN'T Healthy and needs more care then they can give him plus new york climate isn't suitable for alligators it's super cold and reptiles need sunlight 🏜🐊💚👍
I teach my 4-year-old to distinguish between various animals and to respect them all, regardless of their size or potential for harm. Educating her about animals is crucial; she understands that while adult alligators can be dangerous, so too can smaller ones. Despite this awareness, she respects both types of alligators tells me she loves them anyway.
I saw one at the zoo where its teeth were horizontal with the ground and was disgusted. That entire trip zoo trip I notice all of them had issues. How can the zoos keep them when they know they can get like this. I felt so bad for that Gator. I just kept pointing out the issues to my husband.
Alligators are not pets. In the northern states alligators bought as pets either die from bad care or are released into the wild when the owner refuses to keep the gator. If they are not rescued from the outdoors, they die from the winter cold. It is one thing if a person can provide the right environment and care and have a permit. It's another thing to keep a gator inside like a cat or dog. That alligator in New York is suffering because he did not receive the vet care he needed That alligator should be sent to a sanctuary. And that would depend on his current health situation.
They definitely are not pets. I agree that no one has any business owning one outside orlf educational/research/certified rescue facilities. He may love that animal as much as he sayd, but the condition of Albert is absolutely deplorable. Just because he loves him doesn't mean his husbandry/care of him wasn't abusive.
Thank you btw for talking about Tiger King, So many people want Joe Exotic to look like a hero or something when he's just a Tiger Mill like a Puppy Mill
Who on earth thinks he's a hero? He was horrible too animals and to tigers and would kill them all the time. He is a very sick person who was horrible to animals. I'm not sure who you think thinks he's a hero because nobody that knows about animals does. He's a very abusive person to people and animals
I'm glad you covered this. I heard about it when the story first broke, but haven't heard anything since. What I read was that he had the gator for 30+ years, and they took it away from him because he didn't get his license in time. I thought that was a crock, they should maybe fine him, and give the gator back. Now I have just learned SO much more, and I feel bad for him and the gator, but I do believe that he should NOT get the gator back. Such a sad situation.
I felt bad for the owner until I saw the condition of his alligator. Albert is in bad shape, he’s deformed, he’s blind, his snout is small. Just awful, I’m glad authorities finally stepped in. The owner needs to keep memories of Albert, accept what happened & move on🐊🙏🏾
Thanks for covering this guys - poor Albert, just his condition dictates that this person should not get him back even if it _was_ legal. That is a severe case of abuse and neglect through ignorance. At the end of the day it's about the health and well being of the critter. Now on a brighter topic, Miss Tic-tok looks so happy and healthy, what a complete change from her condition when you found her
There are many animals that shouldn't be, and frankly aren't, pets. Crocodilians and primates top that list. You cannot keep them as pets without harming them. A sanctuary like yours is reasonable, you look after all of their needs, including social and emotional needs, not asking them to take care of yours.
@@tammyrollins5199 You aren't wrong. I spend a lot of time focused on the first two groups for various reasons but wild cats, even the smaller ones, aren't pets either, and no amount of wolf should be a pet (I say this knowing that my SCA mom had a wolf of malamute for years who slept in my tent most nights at events because I had more space. She's always liked exotic pets, unfortunately. If we were still on speaking terms I'd talk to her about it.)
Such an insightful message, on the industry & related attitudes. I learn every day from your work & content sharing. Love the channel + vlogs, keeping up virtually w your inspiring efforts is part of my daily routine. Makes my evenings! Always telling my family/friends about your mission! Loved your respectful compassionate healthy dialogue here. You’re such an example to us. Wishing you both all good things to come. (Loove seeing Ms. Clovey in the background + within every video 😍) - from San Diego, CA
I really enjoy the content and information that you and Gabby provide. How you provide for these animals is absolutely amazing. Above & beyond. My favorite channel ❤
I don’t think this man should get the gator back. And I love hearing your a gabby thoughts about kids and gators. I see where the both of you are coming from, that’s definitely a tough one. I know he’s all the way in New York , but is there any way to get Albert down to your sanctuary?! Would it be too traumatic for the gator?
I live in Massachusetts where it is illegal to keep crocodilians as private pets. That said, there have been two instances I know of where alligators have been found here. One was in a private home and the other was let go in a local river. That found that Fish and Game removed from the river was in good health as it had been eating the local fish, turtles and ducks. I can't remember what happened to them. I agree with you that crocodilians chould not be kept as private pets.
Hey Chris and Gabby, I was very interested in getting a crocodilian like a caiman or alligator as I have been keeping turtles for ~15 years. I went on a research binge and found you, Clint's Reptiles, and a bunch of BAD examples. You two, and Clint, have convinced me that I should not get any crocodilian ever. Thank you for being real and tough because people like me needed that. I thought that I knew reptiles from turtles and I thought that I could "learn" crocodilians, but I have learned that I do NOT know. Your animals have been great ambassadors, and you, Chris and Gabby, are great interpreters. Thank you.
I have a problem when the alligator isn’t a threat solely because it’s so unhealthy it can’t be a threat I see both your points of view on touching alligators if it’s beneficial for a kid or not. I think it goes to how mentally mature the kid is. Maybe by middle school I would agree. I will say that as an elementary school kid being bitten by a pet hamster and scratched by cats made me respect the body autonomy of other creatures. If you touch an animal in a way they don’t like they will lash out. I think that’s very important for kids to learn. Obviously you don’t want a serious injury and you want the kid old enough to realize why and that it was their fault and not the animal’s. I think it also depends on how stressed the animal is by the interaction when they’re a baby too. If you care about the animals you need to change and correct the animals care as you’re educated and learn about correct care. (Like you with the prairie dog enclosure!)
I live in Pennsylvania, and I own an American alligator, a young Nile crocodile, and dozens of Asian water monitors. There are people here who do it the right way and work their butts off to do so. I bought a 16-acre property in south Florida just last year. Getting everything down there and outdoors is the eventual goal.
I learn something from y'all every day. Thank you. I hadn't even heard about this story, and didn't know baby crocodilians are still being sold as 'pets'. You handle the discussion very well. I watch several of the other Florida reptile keeper channels; you definitely know some of those guys who have the four-and-under length crocodilians and no permit for the larger ones. They make it clear on their channels though, and I believe they plan on purchasing more property and getting the permits when they exceed the length - OR they have a friend with the proper permits and land to take them later.
Owned a caiman when I was younger. I had it for about a year and a half. It grew from ten inches to two and a half feet and was dangerous every day I had it. They are not ever non aggressive. If they get a chance to bite you they will. A very poor choice for a pet unless you fully understand its nature and have the facilities to handle a dangerous animal that becomes progressively more dangerous as it gets bigger.
Caimans of various species are far more aggressive than alligators so it depends but all crocodilian can become “docile” with the proper training and skill, I have been able to lay down next to Nile crocodiles that I spent time desensitizing, even ones fresh from the wild claimed to be man-eaters have been “docile” but it also really just depends on the individual animal. Bottom line, no crocodilian not even the Cuvier’s dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) should be kept as a casual pet.
Great to hear you both weigh in on this, I completely agree that crocodilians should not be pets, period. And I agree with Gabby, baby gator petting/pics need to go. Keep going against the grain for the sake of the animals!
As a kid I was into raising wild reptiles, birds, you name it. I didn’t have the maturity to realize it is best to leave animals in their environment rather than try to make a pet of the animal. So I can see it’s a balancing act when showing ambassador animals to the public.
I'm glad I watched this; I saw all of the articles about Albert. I thought his blindness and all the other deformities were birth defects, or something similar. I had no idea that it was completely preventable, and that captivity had made him that way. Even in this 40-minute video, I learned so much about alligators and crocodiles that I never knew.
As long as someone is able to take proper care of an animal, this person should be allowed to keep it. BUT: No matter where in the world you live, the regulations for exotic animals rarely make sense because they're formulated by people who in most cases don't seem to know what they're doing. This needs to change. Also by proper care I mean that the most high-end facilities should be considered the norm not the exception. Of course this would make keeping Alligators expensive and complicated beyond reason for 99.9% of people, but at the end of the day one of the main reasons so many crocodilians end up in an abusive situation is because they're cheap and (relatively) easily accessible in many parts of the world. So this would solve two problems at once: Too many crocodilians in captivity in general and crocodilians kept under horrific conditions.
My first thought upon seeing Albert was that he looked really deformed. Like when he was walking it seemed to my eyes that his spine looked bunched up and all. I am certainly no gator expert, nor do I claim to be but even I could tell he wasn't in a good situation. Was Albert being abused? Yes & no (again imo). Yes in the sense that he clearly has MBD and was clearly kept/fed improperly but also I don't believe his owner was intentionally going out and abusing him. I just don't think he had all the knowledge/experience to properly care for him. That said Gabby & Chris I'm so grateful to hear your thoughts on this pretty controversial subject. If I've learned only one thing from you two is that wild animals are WILD, they're trained & never tame and never ever pets. Much love & success for you and your sanctuary.
I saw so many comments on other videos saying give the guy the gator back but Albert doesn't look healthy. 34 years without incident isn't a good enough reason to give an animal back that isn't being looked after properly
Dear Gabby and Chris, I would love to hear you wax extemporanea about the menagerie at-large, regarding ways your dog babes are different from all the others - nature/nurture/ trained/tamed; WILD > DOMESTICATED > PET... What differences and similarities do Bambi and Poppy share? Jellybean and emus? Coatimundis, cavies, skunkies... WHO LOVES YOU BACK? 🥰 The pigs and the kids sure seem to "love" seeing you in the morning..! (like, even the domesticated PET kitty is so different from the domesticated PET dog!) What can you 'expect back' from all those different babes?! I'd never tire of hearing you two describing contrast/comparison [affections/attentions] from Poppy : Bambi : Comet : Lola : Caspar - what a gas!
I think this kind of animal should be with trained professionals and a facility set aside for this kind of animal. Along with snakes which Florida is got a big problem with.
Thank you for your educational views/explanations, and opinions, I am sorry you aren’t supported by others in your field for your opinions/view points (I do agree 100% and am so grateful to have people who care so much for what is best for animals and advocate for them). Saw baby Emu for a few seconds in the background, so cute (for qualified owners and advocates). Hopefully this makes sense I am not great with words especially writing them down. Wish you both the best, thank you so much for caring, sharing and your transparency, it is very much appreciated!
Thanks for bringing attention to this! I live in Pa and honestly I didn't know our state was allowed alligators that's crazy! Especially since I would have to have a permit to get a hedgehog but I can freely go get a alligator! That is nuts to me.
Thanks guys! Great informative vlog! Before we moved to Florida, we.visited the area a couple times a year. we made a point of taking a picture of our grandson.on the back of the gator statue at the restaurant in Ocklawaha!👍 A safe environment. Keep up the great work!
Thanks, I agree with Chris no pet crocks, Gators etc. Kid's only touch during education and done ethically while being taught about the reality of large animal difference's. I don't think this man should get the gator back. And not any lizard either unless he provides the proper UVB lighting etc.
Always love the professionalism on this channel. People on the internet love anthropomorphizing and projecting traits onto wild animals that don’t exist and they get really upset when you burst that bubble. Animals like these should not be pets, period. Even a lot of zoos struggle to maintain humane standards for animals and they’re fully staffed. Really hope states like PA crack down legally on this like big cat legislation has picked up in other lax states. These pseudo-educational pet gators are clearly the owner wanting attention first with the educational aspect as an afterthought.
Honestly people should not have any animal for a pet unless they're knowledgeable about the animal and are willing and able to properly care for them. It's sad to say but many people don't even properly care for cats and dogs and it gets even worse with exotic animals. In just my experience with rabbits there is so much to learn about them (example- rabbit pellets should not be their main food) and it's difficult to find a good rabbit veterinarian as well. You'd think their care would be simple due to them being categorized as farm animals but there's nothing simple about it. Then when you are talking wild animals their diet, housing, enrichment and everything else becomes far more complicated to know and can be very expensive to maintain. With apex predators you also get a lot of safety concerns for the animal and for people added to the mix. Most people no matter how well intentioned are just not qualified and capable of the responsibility of wild animals, definitely not apex predators.
My thoughts on touching alligators line up with Chris', though I grew up during the MySpace and AIM era. Gabby's concerns do feel more valid viewed through all the clout-seekers on social media these days. I think being able to touch is good, but no photos, perhaps? Have an education bit on why alligators aren't pets, maybe even a "if you want to work with animals one day, here are good starters" talk. I feel like if they're going to do it they probably will anyway, so use the moment to try to leave them with a responsible impression to follow. That's my own take, but whatever ya'll decide I know will ultimately be what you feel is best for the animals. Ya'll are both amazing, I respect the heck out of what ya'll do!
Obviously the guy had money, did he not schedule check ups with a vet? Would the vet have picked up the early stages of MBD and suggested corrective actions?
Excellent, excellent video. This whole emotional support animal gimmick is way out of control and ties into my concerns about metal health in this country. I say this as a severely disabled person whose dogs have helped keep me emotionally balanced. When children are here they are never alone with the dogs, young children play with one us next to them, etc, even though all of our digs are trained to be sweet and gentle. All it takes is one too many pokes in the eye by a 2 year old to end in a scarred two year old and in some cases a euthanized dog. I could write several books on the subject, but we are a pathologically needy culture in which people are driven to seek companionship/love, no matter how dangerous or harmful to themselves and other living beings. I have my own theories about the relationship between the widespread abuse in this country and seeking out dangerous relationships. I’m so glad you up brought the issue of children. I remember a terrible case in Houston where a couple had a huge python they allowed to run loose in the house. They then had a baby. The python killed the baby trying to swallow it…its teeth penetrated the “soft spot.” What disgusted me is that this became a cause celebe not around child neglect/irresponsible parenting but getting rid of pythons as pets.
I am an educator that does herp programs. We do have baby alligators that we bring with us. Those alligators are under contract and have a place to go after us but I definitely feel the complexity of using them in this way. Our alligators are obviously stressed when we handle them for these programs but on the flip side it’s only for a few minutes a week and kids do get a valuable experience with these animals. The questions they ask when they are looking at the animal are so much more engaging and clearly they are more interested in learning about them when they can see and touch the animal. I do live in a place with a lot of wild alligators as well so most of them have seen or at least heard about alligators before. I do always make a point to educate on why we shouldn’t touch them outside of these programs and I tell them how large this tiny baby ‘gecko’ looking thing will get. It’s definitely something that I feel my facility needs to improve on and I’m sure many others do as well, I’m an employee and don’t have the power to change everything… I have tried to advocate for better care but am shut down for ‘thinking of the animals as pets’ (which isn’t where my thoughts are, it’s a wild animal that should be cared for as a living wild animal, not a prop).
You would think or hope that anyone would be able to look at Albert and see that he is VERY clearly not ok or not healthy… while yes I do think his owner may love him and may want to do the best for him but it’s extremely clear that those needs are/were not being met, there’s absolutely no reason for Albert to have gotten to the point that he has. The poor dude can’t even open his mouth!! I also understand where Gabby is coming from with children, it can be extremely hit or miss with how that child is going to remember/ take that experience through the rest of their life. It can be hard for smaller children to be able to distinguish these alligators from being pets versus being rescued or friendly versus dangerous…. There’s to perfect solution for this sadly. I hope I made sense lol Thank you Gabby and Chris for speaking out about these situations and animals, and for doing your best to give your rescues the best life you can! Mad respect for both of you!! ❤️🫶🏻
I find it funny that in the recommendations there’s a video of a dude in Idaho introducing his two “pet” gators. Both have obvious signs showing everything you’re talking about. All while he has two supposed experts there praising his husbandry.
I have to chime in here. So Corbin has had Soni and chompers since they were young. They were nuisance gators just like Casper. He has his permits. He doesn't interact nor touch them. He gets them the best meat. As for the experts that's danny and savannah from gatorland. They have worked there for many many years, and Chris knows both of them and supports and is friends with them as well. They don't let people swim with any gators. They do educate them. Just as is talked about. All the gators at gatorland are nuisance gators are far as I'm aware, and had been up and opening since the 70's. But back to Soni and chompers they aren't obese, they can open their mouths, they can whip their tails, they have the pool and outside enclosure, the pool is heated. I could go on. Honestly Corbin has given them a good life. And Danny and savannah are experts. They are wonderful people. Just as Chris and gabby. Please check them out. It's worth it.
Thank you for this totally helpful education about alligators and their needs. All animals need respect and support to keep these precious living things part of our lives.
Hadn't heard of this. Also don't think he should get the alligator back, and think it might be best for him if he was pts. Not that it's /fair/, but he's got to be suffering. I've got a photo of me on the back of an alligator as a 2nd/3rd grader at the Kachunga and the Alligator show (is that how you spell it?) at one of the botanical gardens I think? Everyone who saw it always said it looks like a prison photo because I was in black and white stripes and I swear I didn't know how to smile as a kid. Don't want a crocodilian as a pet, though I DO have a crested gecko, a hognose, 3 aquariums (one reef, two bettas) and a couple green cheek conures. I'd also probably die of happiness if a childhood dream of having like a million acres to breed all manner of endangered hoofstock for conservation purposes came true, though I have noooo idea what I'd do with any of those animals. For the children with baby alligators thing. Could you have some sort of sturdy cutout that is life-size to show that while this tiny guy is super duper cute, look how big it'll get if you care for it properly! Don't necessarily NEED to say it's the biggest on record, and you could probably fit half a class of kids on it if they're willing to stand touching. I heard as a kid growing up that they can break a cow's leg (though can't find confirmation on google, so it might just be one of those "facts" that is not.) so maybe get a nice sturdy one from a slaughterhouse or something and invite some of the kids up to see if they can break it while reminding them that they're wild/unpredictable/whatever and can BITE these in half to show that maybe having one of these guys isn't such a good idea, huh? but in a way that's less likely to leave them with lasting trauma. Honestly I think even domesticated animals need way more restrictions on ownership than we have now. I've heard it's better in other countries (and would love to move to one and find that out firsthand) but here so many people just don't research anything to do with the living creature they're taking responsibility for by bringing it into their home. Definitely needs to change.
Have y’all ever seen the video here on YT about the Pottenger’s Cats Experiment? I think it helps explain MBD. Animals need raw, whole, unfrozen/uncooked prey. If at least 50% the diet isn’t raw, they become deformed.
I agree that it interacting with animals can inspire a passion for the animal, but also that people don't have enough respect for apex predators and having access to them doesn't necessarily inspire respect.
I am with Chris here. Honestly, most children are smarter than you would give them credit for. If someone like Chris came to my school when I was a child with an alligator that was small and not only let the kids touch it but tried to use that experience to instil that deep respect for adult gators and apex predators in general, and learn about the possible threats. While enjoying gators from afar via watching videos about the sanctuary.... children are like sponges, and positive experiences with animals can do amazing things.
Chris- Appreciate you and Gabby addressing this issue of pet alligators! Pet pythons escaped during Hurricane Andrew, survived, and have become a nuisance and yet another danger to humans in FL. At the end of the day- if you allow gators as pets (I too am vehemently opposed), you MUST have a counter. That is- remove them from the status as protected species, and let anyone relocate them as they see fit, or kill them, not just licensed handlers. You can’t have it both ways with some animals; that’s reality. Enough can survive TN winters, so they’ll multiply. Then many of our really nice lakes and streams will eventually become a danger to humans. AND the gators will have a hard life here. No one wins if enough pet gators here in TN get let lose. It’s worth noting that wildfires are more common out west, because they don’t allow the brush and small trees that act as kindling to be cleaned up anymore. The same mindset needs to be looked at with animals if we are to maintain a healthy balance.
This was SO interesting and YAY, I had no idea you had another channel until this popped up in my feed. I hate that it's always the animal that suffers for our ignorance.
I will add that in my opinion treating any living thing in the ways you describe, regardless of intent/ignorance qualifies as abuse. One solution is to teach proper care and respect of other living beings in the schools. Not likely to happen, but it would make a difference and help compensate for parents who were never taught to do the same.
It’s so crazy how MBD is unavoidable in alligators. I remember learning that in another one of your videos and I can’t unsee it now. They are such a fascinating animal. I think many people just don’t understand how awful some of these animals feel living like this. I wish MI had better laws. We actually have a sanctuary for alligators because it’s such a problem which is just insane! I often see baby alligators on ads for expos here and I hate it. I do see a slight increase of people calling them out though so keep up the good work! The more people realize how these animals suffer in captivity, the less likely the greedy, crappy people will be able to make money off of them!
I love animals and reptiles. I am from New York and would never own a wild animal because I am not set up for it, in the sanctuary educational type a way you talk about it. Also because I am aware that the pet trade industry is messed and not every animal is met to be a pet, and even some pets are not right for every situation. For example: a large 100 pound dog should not be living in a small studio apartment. I always put the animals needs ahead of mine. If I can not meet the needs of the animal then I am not bringing it home. I do not think this guy should get the alligator back. I also don't think anyone should attack him either. We can't change the past. Let learn from it and move forward.
I know of a well documented pet alligator that was voluntarily surrendered to a zoo and I was surprised to learn she was 35 years old. She's only 1.21 meters in length and the facility's owner confirmed she has MBD. At that age, I would have expected her to be near Casper's size.
Great video, very informative! I'm sure the guy loves his gator, but at what point does it become selfishness? He must have basic alligator knowledge and recognize that his gator is very unhealthy - I think anyone can see that. If you truly love your animal you will do anything to get it the help it needs and ease its suffering, even if it causes you pain. I hope the gator can live out his life in as much comfort as can be provided by experienced keepers.💚
Great video..I am from Buffalo, NY, and I wish everyone around here could see this video. There is just one thing I wish you would have talked about in the video, and that's if Albert has any "emotional attachment " or "feelings" towards his owner. So many people here have jumped on this bandwagon of " Albert is going to be so sad, and will die without his owner, because that's all he's ever known". They are basing this whole argument on "emotions " and "feelings" of the alligator. I am not an expert, but I don't believe Albert can have an emotional attachment to his owner.
Haha! SO funny! You said "don't worry - the snake🐍 won't eat the dog🐶" BUT...I am sitting here...nervous that the 🦃TURKEY is going to eat TIKTOK. Haha! I have chickens and they try to eat everything! 🦃
Oh my goodness, Tick Tock has gotten so big! She looks beautiful, I'm so glad you guys kept her. I was very curious what you guys would think of that poor gator, I saw a clip of it and thought the poor thing did not look very good, I'm glad you addressed it. I know MBD can be halted or even reversed up to a point, but that poor boy broke my heart. I would love to have a gator, they are cute and fascinating, but like so many animals that I adore, they are much better left to the wild, or to people who can recreate as close to wild conditions as possible. Sadly, so many people won't care about an animal unless they can see or touch it in person, so I think what you guys do is absolutely necessary for the conservation of a species. So glad there are people like you guys and Snake Discovery and others who can educate the public and rescue animals like Albert. Yes, these animals are your "pets", in the sense that you care for them and you feel affection and responsible for them, but I also see the huge difference between the way you treat your "wild" animals and the way you treat that adorable Chihuahua. Also per your comments about children interacting with gators: YES! THANK YOU! I don't understand how people don't understand the danger they are putting their kids in having them interact with these wild animals! I agree with Chris, but I also see where Gabby is coming from. I think a big part of it is how the educator presents, and how the handler treats the animal when presenting it. I think you, Chris, are the kind of person who can provide the education and benefits of animal interaction, but I also see from your experience, Gabby, how the burden of ensuring that interactions are done ethically is on the people (schools, zoos, etc) who book these interactions, and so often its the bad actors who provide these interactions. And for certain: Albert should NOT be returned to that 'owner'. Animals should not be returned to people who have neglected them so severely. He needs to go to someone who knows how to take care of him, and honestly that person should never be allowed to own an animal again. It's so easy to learn how to properly care for an animal, the internet is a resource that has been around for so long, he could have very easily learned. I won't harass the 'owner', but there is an amount of laziness in that much neglect that it is just as bad as malicious abuse. But that's my opinion, I will stop rambling haha. Love your guys' work and passion for animals.
Duuuude, you're living my dream life!!! Working with gators, snakes, happy marriage, happy animal family everywhere, by my count, 2 dogs, a turkey and a rooster? Hell yeah guys, love your passion!! 😎
20:14 I highly doubt any child raised by you two won't have the right amount of respect for all wildlife, but I do agree completely. A huge problem here (in South Africa) is lion cub petting. They raise the cubs up being pet by kids and being completely unafraid of humans, then then send them of to canned hunting parks. It truly disgusts me.
![HIWWHEE | OHM [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/OJJLtTLqLag/mqdefault.jpg)
![[TH] RNT vs SPG - VCT Ascension Pacific - Day 1](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RUTkf8Detj8/mqdefault.jpg)
They dont like you because you tell the truth and the truth hurts. I think that you are both totally right. They arent pets and should never be treated as such. We respect you so much for speaking your truth ❤
It's also hurting their bottom dollar. When you argue they shouldn't be making a living off what they're doing, they're going to be upset, which then begs the question: WHO in their life enabled this behavior and told them it's okay?
@@Jake38nine i agree, it all starts with the proper education and changes in the law. If they have relaxed laws, then these poor crocs/alligators are the ones who suffer, some people lack the knowledge in proper care and husbandry. All states need the same laws really. Then certain unscrupulous people who do it for the money and not the welfare of the beautiful dinosaurs cant make a buck out of it.
It’s horrible that people think reptiles don’t deserve the same care and respect as mammals, I saw your post on Instagram Gabby and I completely agree. It boils my blood that people keep these wild animals as pets for themselves without caring about the animals health
not enough people like these two gems sharing their wisdom tbh! I had the opportunity to buy some bearded dragons about 10 years ago.. I get there, they ask if I want snakes as well, they already have their box, hide etc.. I said for no extra charge? sure! I at that point went from 1 dog, to 2 bearded dragons and 4 snakes(looked just like tick tok, ball pythons) for a while things went well.. then I bought aspen bedding, and where they stayed, the humidity must have gotten too much for them and 3 ended up passing within a week before I had any idea why..(the aspen bedding creates a lot of moisture which is terrible for them to breathe in apparently) then one of my beardies had a big growth on her back.. (improper lighting) all my fault that these animals went through what they did, because it was that easy to get them.. I ended up having the beardies for 7 years, as 1 slowly deteriorated.. then the other I am convinced passed from loneliness about 6 months later or so.. I tried to learn as much as I could, but from bad teachers on YT to some general negligence because I couldnt afford some of the upkeep of the bulbs, etc, it got out of hand .. had i known that you need a good amount of money, time, dedication and care to help these little guys, I likely would have either just stuck with the beardies, or not gotten them in the first place.. these guys are life savers for this generation, I am convinced!
It's painful to look at Albert. I know they're super tough animals but he must feel some discomfort.
Reptiles have the anatomy to feel pain, they also demonstrate painful behavior AND respond to pain medication. Considering this, and knowing how painful arthritis is in people, elephants, horses, dogs, cats etc, we know that Albert the alligator is in pain. If this was a leopard gecko or a beardie suffering from MBD, a veterinarian would certainly discuss euthanasia as an ethical option. I say this with confidence as a tech and husbandry consultant for a small animal and exotic hospital.
Couldn’t help but to laugh when the Turkey came out of nowhere and just stood behind them .😂
watch their sanctuary vlog. Turkey is incredibly friendly and always showing up when least expected :D
I laughed! My mic was pretty high on my headset and took me by surprise! lol
Comet is a beauty 🦃❤
He's always so serious.
Lmao me too
Thank you so much for the genuine, respectful discussion - including the disagreement! I always look forward to hearing your perspectives and appreciate the knowledge you pass along to us 😊
I had so many people become enraged on posts about this situation because I merely said alligators are not pets. All these armchair experts, people from the community saying that they knew better about alligator health than fish and wildlife 🙄
I remember seeing your older video on his subject (Paucho the crocodile) and tried to explain it to them but it was a lost cause.
It's nuts how many people think they know better than people who actually do.
Any respectable alligator person that knows anything about these animals will say the same exact thing that we are saying. If the general public that is misguided.
@@FloridasWildest Exactly.
100% agree. Apex predators are not pets. I love crocodilians, I would LOVE to have one as a pet, I see Chris' interactions with Casper and my heart melts, I want nothing more than to just boop his little snoot. But I do not believe crocodilians can be ethically kept as a pet. Their space and dietary needs are so complex, only experts should keep them in captivity.
Once, my wife and I went to our local Publix to get some food, and outside at the doors of the store was a man trying to get donations for his animal sanctuary. Whether it was legitimate or not, I didn't know. He had some of his animals there, and what was shocking to the both of us was the fact that his approximately 7 or 8 year old daughter was sitting inside a medium sized dog kennel, the kind that is made of metal, not the molded plastic ones. She had a small dog in her lap, and in front of her was about a 3 foot gator head to tail. If that gator, even at that size decided to exhibit some wild behavior, that little and the girl would not have had any way to escape it. The little girl acting as if she wasn't frightened in the least, but who would take a chance like that with their own daughter or even a little dog. I agree with both of you about kids and wild animals. It's good to let them touch wild animals and learn about them for the purpose of learning how to respect them and how to properly interact with them (or not to interact with them at all). However, along with this familiarization, children must be taught that no matter how much they may think a know a particular animal, they must always be prepared for that animal to act like animal.
I've always wondered about the cause of MBD in captive gators. It's so weird. Especially given what Gabby was speaking on in regards to how once baby gator will do fine in the wild, with no MBD, but if you take another baby gator from the same clutch(or even its "twin" or a clone), and raise it in captivity, but outdoors in natural bodies of water, with natural sunlight, feed it a varied diet like whole fish/chicken/rodents, other types of meat, that Mazuri croc show, etc., the latter will still have some level of MBD.
I wonder if it has something to do with the gators inability to travel to different places and bodies of water, or perhaps some mineral that wild crocs obtain by consuming some of the mud/soil in their natural waterways, or something to do with gastroliths, and how they help break down their food, perhaps a lack of fish in their diets(since fish is the primary food source of crocodilians in general), or maybe living in captivity they so rarely have to do anything physical, which could cause the bones to not be as strong, not having to hunt, and shake their heads from side to side to break off smaller bites, or perhaps it has something to do with their limited opportunities when it comes to thermoregulating while in captivity, etc.
I hope they figure it out, because it's actually pretty sad, especially when you see a big, old, gorgeous(or at least would be gorgeous under normal circumstances), etc. with such severe presentations of the disease, preventing it from simply opening its mouth, or even just moving around due to the kinks or other problems in its spine. Reminds me of the poor little gator that was kept in a small box for like 20 years or something until Emily from Snake Discovery rescued it. Unfortunately the damage was already done. It's upper jaw/snout also curves upwards significantly(though with proper care that has actually gotten better over time), and this decades old gator looks like a 2-3 year old gator.
It probably has to do with not being fed whole prey that’s not been frozen and/or cooked. Freezing and cooking destroys enzymes and bacteria that help animals digest. Pottenger’s Cats Experiment shows us the ramifications of cooked food and milk.
Thank you for speaking the truth about having alligators as exotic pets. Apex predators like alligators don’t belong in someone’s basement and seeing that obese alligator that could barely open his mouth was very heartbreaking. I believe the truth should come out no matter how painful it is and you should let people make their own decisions about how they handle the truth. You two are very brave and very inspirational! Thank you!
Appreciate this video so much. Thank you for posting this. Sharing everywhere I can.
Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you for NOT holding back and giving us your honest thoughts, I 100% Agree I'm NOT a peta activist NOR do I support them but The Animals needs need to come first yeah the owner may love his animal but the animal ISN'T Healthy and needs more care then they can give him plus new york climate isn't suitable for alligators it's super cold and reptiles need sunlight 🏜🐊💚👍
Thank you for watching!
It's not even the cold that's the issue as Corbin has 2 gators in Idaho I believe
I believe everything you guys are saying
I teach my 4-year-old to distinguish between various animals and to respect them all, regardless of their size or potential for harm. Educating her about animals is crucial; she understands that while adult alligators can be dangerous, so too can smaller ones. Despite this awareness, she respects both types of alligators tells me she loves them anyway.
I just love you guys and all yall do for our wildlife...I truly look up to you guys...Much love and respect for you guys and what yall do
thanks so much!
I saw one at the zoo where its teeth were horizontal with the ground and was disgusted. That entire trip zoo trip I notice all of them had issues. How can the zoos keep them when they know they can get like this. I felt so bad for that Gator. I just kept pointing out the issues to my husband.
Alligators are not pets. In the northern states alligators bought as pets either die from bad care or are released into the wild when the owner refuses to keep the gator. If they are not rescued from the outdoors, they die from the winter cold. It is one thing if a person can provide the right environment and care and have a permit. It's another thing to keep a gator inside like a cat or dog. That alligator in New York is suffering because he did not receive the vet care he needed That alligator should be sent to a sanctuary. And that would depend on his current health situation.
People keep saying how Albert is emotionally connected to his owner. However, alligators do not form emotional attachments with any human.
They definitely are not pets. I agree that no one has any business owning one outside orlf educational/research/certified rescue facilities.
He may love that animal as much as he sayd, but the condition of Albert is absolutely deplorable. Just because he loves him doesn't mean his husbandry/care of him wasn't abusive.
Thank you btw for talking about Tiger King, So many people want Joe Exotic to look like a hero or something when he's just a Tiger Mill like a Puppy Mill
Who on earth thinks he's a hero? He was horrible too animals and to tigers and would kill them all the time. He is a very sick person who was horrible to animals. I'm not sure who you think thinks he's a hero because nobody that knows about animals does. He's a very abusive person to people and animals
@@Angelface11 A scary amount of people think he’s a good guy…. It’s actually pretty shocking
I love how real you are as a couple! Thank you for your educational videos. 😊
Thanks for speaking out
I'm glad you covered this. I heard about it when the story first broke, but haven't heard anything since. What I read was that he had the gator for 30+ years, and they took it away from him because he didn't get his license in time. I thought that was a crock, they should maybe fine him, and give the gator back.
Now I have just learned SO much more, and I feel bad for him and the gator, but I do believe that he should NOT get the gator back. Such a sad situation.
I felt bad for the owner until I saw the condition of his alligator. Albert is in bad shape, he’s deformed, he’s blind, his snout is small. Just awful, I’m glad authorities finally stepped in. The owner needs to keep memories of Albert, accept what happened & move on🐊🙏🏾
i love the energy in this video, its sad for poor alligator but this is a great format for you guys to have discussion
Great information. Thank you for your honesty and keeping it real for us. I hope whatever happens, it is in the best interest of the alligator.
The turkey! He's like, " Hey, you guys are doing a video without me? Just look at my beautiful plumage. Fine, don't pay attention, I'll just leave" 😂
Thank you for spreading this awareness and education
Its insane, its like a child living with narcissistic/psychotic parents.
Really good show today and thank you for sharing about Alligator 🐊.
I love the videos you guys put out. They are full of knowledge ❤
Thanks for covering this guys - poor Albert, just his condition dictates that this person should not get him back even if it _was_ legal. That is a severe case of abuse and neglect through ignorance. At the end of the day it's about the health and well being of the critter. Now on a brighter topic, Miss Tic-tok looks so happy and healthy, what a complete change from her condition when you found her
There are many animals that shouldn't be, and frankly aren't, pets. Crocodilians and primates top that list. You cannot keep them as pets without harming them. A sanctuary like yours is reasonable, you look after all of their needs, including social and emotional needs, not asking them to take care of yours.
I agree but would add big cats and wolf/dog hybrids.
@@tammyrollins5199 You aren't wrong. I spend a lot of time focused on the first two groups for various reasons but wild cats, even the smaller ones, aren't pets either, and no amount of wolf should be a pet (I say this knowing that my SCA mom had a wolf of malamute for years who slept in my tent most nights at events because I had more space. She's always liked exotic pets, unfortunately. If we were still on speaking terms I'd talk to her about it.)
Such an insightful message, on the industry & related attitudes. I learn every day from your work & content sharing. Love the channel + vlogs, keeping up virtually w your inspiring efforts is part of my daily routine. Makes my evenings! Always telling my family/friends about your mission! Loved your respectful compassionate healthy dialogue here. You’re such an example to us. Wishing you both all good things to come. (Loove seeing Ms. Clovey in the background + within every video 😍) - from San Diego, CA
I really enjoy the content and information that you and Gabby provide. How you provide for these animals is absolutely amazing. Above & beyond. My favorite channel ❤
I live in Buffalo NY! N I agree with u guys!! Good job on explaining
So do I and I’m disgusted with the kooks screaming to send him home! Its nuts !!!
I don’t think this man should get the gator back. And I love hearing your a gabby thoughts about kids and gators. I see where the both of you are coming from, that’s definitely a tough one. I know he’s all the way in New York , but is there any way to get Albert down to your sanctuary?! Would it be too traumatic for the gator?
It’s not possible, logistically with permits and everything. Plus, our mission statement is nuisance alligators, not captive alligators.
I live in Massachusetts where it is illegal to keep crocodilians as private pets. That said, there have been two instances I know of where alligators have been found here. One was in a private home and the other was let go in a local river. That found that Fish and Game removed from the river was in good health as it had been eating the local fish, turtles and ducks. I can't remember what happened to them. I agree with you that crocodilians chould not be kept as private pets.
Hey Chris and Gabby, I was very interested in getting a crocodilian like a caiman or alligator as I have been keeping turtles for ~15 years. I went on a research binge and found you, Clint's Reptiles, and a bunch of BAD examples. You two, and Clint, have convinced me that I should not get any crocodilian ever. Thank you for being real and tough because people like me needed that. I thought that I knew reptiles from turtles and I thought that I could "learn" crocodilians, but I have learned that I do NOT know. Your animals have been great ambassadors, and you, Chris and Gabby, are great interpreters. Thank you.
Thank you so much!
I have a problem when the alligator isn’t a threat solely because it’s so unhealthy it can’t be a threat
I see both your points of view on touching alligators if it’s beneficial for a kid or not. I think it goes to how mentally mature the kid is. Maybe by middle school I would agree. I will say that as an elementary school kid being bitten by a pet hamster and scratched by cats made me respect the body autonomy of other creatures. If you touch an animal in a way they don’t like they will lash out. I think that’s very important for kids to learn. Obviously you don’t want a serious injury and you want the kid old enough to realize why and that it was their fault and not the animal’s.
I think it also depends on how stressed the animal is by the interaction when they’re a baby too.
If you care about the animals you need to change and correct the animals care as you’re educated and learn about correct care. (Like you with the prairie dog enclosure!)
I hope Albert the alligator gets better care after this.
I live in Pennsylvania, and I own an American alligator, a young Nile crocodile, and dozens of Asian water monitors. There are people here who do it the right way and work their butts off to do so. I bought a 16-acre property in south Florida just last year. Getting everything down there and outdoors is the eventual goal.
Great episode today like always
Please do more 10 minutes with TikTok! I mean loads more
Yes, this!
43 minutes with tiktok* 😂
I learn something from y'all every day. Thank you. I hadn't even heard about this story, and didn't know baby crocodilians are still being sold as 'pets'. You handle the discussion very well. I watch several of the other Florida reptile keeper channels; you definitely know some of those guys who have the four-and-under length crocodilians and no permit for the larger ones. They make it clear on their channels though, and I believe they plan on purchasing more property and getting the permits when they exceed the length - OR they have a friend with the proper permits and land to take them later.
Owned a caiman when I was younger. I had it for about a year and a half. It grew from ten inches to two and a half feet and was dangerous every day I had it. They are not ever non aggressive. If they get a chance to bite you they will. A very poor choice for a pet unless you fully understand its nature and have the facilities to handle a dangerous animal that becomes progressively more dangerous as it gets bigger.
Caimans of various species are far more aggressive than alligators so it depends but all crocodilian can become “docile” with the proper training and skill, I have been able to lay down next to Nile crocodiles that I spent time desensitizing, even ones fresh from the wild claimed to be man-eaters have been “docile” but it also really just depends on the individual animal. Bottom line, no crocodilian not even the Cuvier’s dwarf caiman (Paleosuchus palpebrosus) should be kept as a casual pet.
Amen.@@melanosuchus
Great to hear you both weigh in on this, I completely agree that crocodilians should not be pets, period. And I agree with Gabby, baby gator petting/pics need to go. Keep going against the grain for the sake of the animals!
As a kid I was into raising wild reptiles, birds, you name it. I didn’t have the maturity to realize it is best to leave animals in their environment rather than try to make a pet of the animal. So I can see it’s a balancing act when showing ambassador animals to the public.
I'm glad I watched this; I saw all of the articles about Albert. I thought his blindness and all the other deformities were birth defects, or something similar. I had no idea that it was completely preventable, and that captivity had made him that way. Even in this 40-minute video, I learned so much about alligators and crocodiles that I never knew.
Education goes a long way, and that's exactly what you both are doing here! Everyone needs to be educated about this stuff due to the misconceptions!
As long as someone is able to take proper care of an animal, this person should be allowed to keep it. BUT:
No matter where in the world you live, the regulations for exotic animals rarely make sense because they're formulated by people who in most cases don't seem to know what they're doing. This needs to change.
Also by proper care I mean that the most high-end facilities should be considered the norm not the exception. Of course this would make keeping Alligators expensive and complicated beyond reason for 99.9% of people, but at the end of the day one of the main reasons so many crocodilians end up in an abusive situation is because they're cheap and (relatively) easily accessible in many parts of the world. So this would solve two problems at once:
Too many crocodilians in captivity in general and crocodilians kept under horrific conditions.
great video. ethical and educational. tnx
The local support this guy is getting is insane.
My first thought upon seeing Albert was that he looked really deformed. Like when he was walking it seemed to my eyes that his spine looked bunched up and all. I am certainly no gator expert, nor do I claim to be but even I could tell he wasn't in a good situation. Was Albert being abused? Yes & no (again imo). Yes in the sense that he clearly has MBD and was clearly kept/fed improperly but also I don't believe his owner was intentionally going out and abusing him. I just don't think he had all the knowledge/experience to properly care for him. That said Gabby & Chris I'm so grateful to hear your thoughts on this pretty controversial subject. If I've learned only one thing from you two is that wild animals are WILD, they're trained & never tame and never ever pets. Much love & success for you and your sanctuary.
I saw so many comments on other videos saying give the guy the gator back but Albert doesn't look healthy. 34 years without incident isn't a good enough reason to give an animal back that isn't being looked after properly
That snake is so curious and cute!
Dear Gabby and Chris, I would love to hear you wax extemporanea about the menagerie at-large, regarding ways your dog babes are different from all the others - nature/nurture/ trained/tamed; WILD > DOMESTICATED > PET...
What differences and similarities do Bambi and Poppy share?
Jellybean and emus?
Coatimundis, cavies, skunkies...
WHO LOVES YOU BACK? 🥰 The pigs and the kids sure seem to "love" seeing you in the morning..!
(like, even the domesticated PET kitty is so different from the domesticated PET dog!)
What can you 'expect back' from all those different babes?!
I'd never tire of hearing you two describing contrast/comparison [affections/attentions] from Poppy : Bambi : Comet : Lola : Caspar - what a gas!
"This is ten minutes with Tick Tok!"
*Eighteen minutes later*
Comet: My turn. Ten minutes with me now.
Education is the basics....!! Luv ya +++ 💚🦎🐢🐊
u guys are the best
I think this kind of animal should be with trained professionals and a facility set aside for this kind of animal. Along with snakes which Florida is got a big problem with.
Thank you for your educational views/explanations, and opinions, I am sorry you aren’t supported by others in your field for your opinions/view points (I do agree 100% and am so grateful to have people who care so much for what is best for animals and advocate for them). Saw baby Emu for a few seconds in the background, so cute (for qualified owners and advocates). Hopefully this makes sense I am not great with words especially writing them down. Wish you both the best, thank you so much for caring, sharing and your transparency, it is very much appreciated!
No wild animal should be owned by persons that isn't a wildlife sanctuary and have the right environment and care.
My two favorite ppl in conservation and animal education right now.
Thanks for bringing attention to this! I live in Pa and honestly I didn't know our state was allowed alligators that's crazy! Especially since I would have to have a permit to get a hedgehog but I can freely go get a alligator! That is nuts to me.
Good and fair discussion guys
cheese?!?! freaking cheese?!!!
Thanks guys! Great informative vlog! Before we moved to Florida, we.visited the area a couple times a year. we made a point of taking a picture of our grandson.on the back of the gator statue at the restaurant in Ocklawaha!👍
A safe environment. Keep up the great work!
"Walking down the street and being like, 'you guys wanna pet my snake?'" Is definitely bound to get someone in trouble in more than one way. 😂😂😂😂
Thanks, I agree with Chris no pet crocks, Gators etc. Kid's only touch during education and done ethically while being taught about the reality of large animal difference's. I don't think this man should get the gator back. And not any lizard either unless he provides the proper UVB lighting etc.
Always love the professionalism on this channel. People on the internet love anthropomorphizing and projecting traits onto wild animals that don’t exist and they get really upset when you burst that bubble. Animals like these should not be pets, period. Even a lot of zoos struggle to maintain humane standards for animals and they’re fully staffed. Really hope states like PA crack down legally on this like big cat legislation has picked up in other lax states. These pseudo-educational pet gators are clearly the owner wanting attention first with the educational aspect as an afterthought.
Honestly people should not have any animal for a pet unless they're knowledgeable about the animal and are willing and able to properly care for them. It's sad to say but many people don't even properly care for cats and dogs and it gets even worse with exotic animals. In just my experience with rabbits there is so much to learn about them (example- rabbit pellets should not be their main food) and it's difficult to find a good rabbit veterinarian as well. You'd think their care would be simple due to them being categorized as farm animals but there's nothing simple about it. Then when you are talking wild animals their diet, housing, enrichment and everything else becomes far more complicated to know and can be very expensive to maintain. With apex predators you also get a lot of safety concerns for the animal and for people added to the mix. Most people no matter how well intentioned are just not qualified and capable of the responsibility of wild animals, definitely not apex predators.
I feel so bad for Albert
My thoughts on touching alligators line up with Chris', though I grew up during the MySpace and AIM era. Gabby's concerns do feel more valid viewed through all the clout-seekers on social media these days.
I think being able to touch is good, but no photos, perhaps? Have an education bit on why alligators aren't pets, maybe even a "if you want to work with animals one day, here are good starters" talk. I feel like if they're going to do it they probably will anyway, so use the moment to try to leave them with a responsible impression to follow. That's my own take, but whatever ya'll decide I know will ultimately be what you feel is best for the animals. Ya'll are both amazing, I respect the heck out of what ya'll do!
Obviously the guy had money, did he not schedule check ups with a vet? Would the vet have picked up the early stages of MBD and suggested corrective actions?
No he didn’t seek vet care
Excellent, excellent video. This whole emotional support animal gimmick is way out of control and ties into my concerns about metal health in this country. I say this as a severely disabled person whose dogs have helped keep me emotionally balanced. When children are here they are never alone with the dogs, young children play with one us next to them, etc, even though all of our digs are trained to be sweet and gentle. All it takes is one too many pokes in the eye by a 2 year old to end in a scarred two year old and in some cases a euthanized dog. I could write several books on the subject, but we are a pathologically needy culture in which people are driven to seek companionship/love, no matter how dangerous or harmful to themselves and other living beings. I have my own theories about the relationship between the widespread abuse in this country and seeking out dangerous relationships. I’m so glad you up brought the issue of children. I remember a terrible case in Houston where a couple had a huge python they allowed to run loose in the house. They then had a baby. The python killed the baby trying to swallow it…its teeth penetrated the “soft spot.” What disgusted me is that this became a cause celebe not around child neglect/irresponsible parenting but getting rid of pythons as pets.
I am an educator that does herp programs. We do have baby alligators that we bring with us. Those alligators are under contract and have a place to go after us but I definitely feel the complexity of using them in this way. Our alligators are obviously stressed when we handle them for these programs but on the flip side it’s only for a few minutes a week and kids do get a valuable experience with these animals. The questions they ask when they are looking at the animal are so much more engaging and clearly they are more interested in learning about them when they can see and touch the animal. I do live in a place with a lot of wild alligators as well so most of them have seen or at least heard about alligators before. I do always make a point to educate on why we shouldn’t touch them outside of these programs and I tell them how large this tiny baby ‘gecko’ looking thing will get. It’s definitely something that I feel my facility needs to improve on and I’m sure many others do as well, I’m an employee and don’t have the power to change everything… I have tried to advocate for better care but am shut down for ‘thinking of the animals as pets’ (which isn’t where my thoughts are, it’s a wild animal that should be cared for as a living wild animal, not a prop).
My brain was like “that’s a cool necklace she’s wearing”
Then it began moving and I realised that’s a giant nope rope
You would think or hope that anyone would be able to look at Albert and see that he is VERY clearly not ok or not healthy… while yes I do think his owner may love him and may want to do the best for him but it’s extremely clear that those needs are/were not being met, there’s absolutely no reason for Albert to have gotten to the point that he has. The poor dude can’t even open his mouth!!
I also understand where Gabby is coming from with children, it can be extremely hit or miss with how that child is going to remember/ take that experience through the rest of their life. It can be hard for smaller children to be able to distinguish these alligators from being pets versus being rescued or friendly versus dangerous…. There’s to perfect solution for this sadly.
I hope I made sense lol Thank you Gabby and Chris for speaking out about these situations and animals, and for doing your best to give your rescues the best life you can! Mad respect for both of you!! ❤️🫶🏻
I find it funny that in the recommendations there’s a video of a dude in Idaho introducing his two “pet” gators. Both have obvious signs showing everything you’re talking about. All while he has two supposed experts there praising his husbandry.
I have to chime in here. So Corbin has had Soni and chompers since they were young. They were nuisance gators just like Casper. He has his permits. He doesn't interact nor touch them. He gets them the best meat.
As for the experts that's danny and savannah from gatorland. They have worked there for many many years, and Chris knows both of them and supports and is friends with them as well. They don't let people swim with any gators. They do educate them. Just as is talked about. All the gators at gatorland are nuisance gators are far as I'm aware, and had been up and opening since the 70's. But back to Soni and chompers they aren't obese, they can open their mouths, they can whip their tails, they have the pool and outside enclosure, the pool is heated. I could go on. Honestly Corbin has given them a good life. And Danny and savannah are experts. They are wonderful people. Just as Chris and gabby. Please check them out. It's worth it.
this is awesome amazing and yes i greed with u guys they not pets and no don't think he sure got his alligator back!
Thank you for this totally helpful education about alligators and their needs. All animals need respect and support to keep these precious living things part of our lives.
Hadn't heard of this. Also don't think he should get the alligator back, and think it might be best for him if he was pts. Not that it's /fair/, but he's got to be suffering.
I've got a photo of me on the back of an alligator as a 2nd/3rd grader at the Kachunga and the Alligator show (is that how you spell it?) at one of the botanical gardens I think? Everyone who saw it always said it looks like a prison photo because I was in black and white stripes and I swear I didn't know how to smile as a kid. Don't want a crocodilian as a pet, though I DO have a crested gecko, a hognose, 3 aquariums (one reef, two bettas) and a couple green cheek conures. I'd also probably die of happiness if a childhood dream of having like a million acres to breed all manner of endangered hoofstock for conservation purposes came true, though I have noooo idea what I'd do with any of those animals.
For the children with baby alligators thing. Could you have some sort of sturdy cutout that is life-size to show that while this tiny guy is super duper cute, look how big it'll get if you care for it properly! Don't necessarily NEED to say it's the biggest on record, and you could probably fit half a class of kids on it if they're willing to stand touching. I heard as a kid growing up that they can break a cow's leg (though can't find confirmation on google, so it might just be one of those "facts" that is not.) so maybe get a nice sturdy one from a slaughterhouse or something and invite some of the kids up to see if they can break it while reminding them that they're wild/unpredictable/whatever and can BITE these in half to show that maybe having one of these guys isn't such a good idea, huh? but in a way that's less likely to leave them with lasting trauma.
Honestly I think even domesticated animals need way more restrictions on ownership than we have now. I've heard it's better in other countries (and would love to move to one and find that out firsthand) but here so many people just don't research anything to do with the living creature they're taking responsibility for by bringing it into their home. Definitely needs to change.
Have y’all ever seen the video here on YT about the Pottenger’s Cats Experiment? I think it helps explain MBD. Animals need raw, whole, unfrozen/uncooked prey. If at least 50% the diet isn’t raw, they become deformed.
I agree that it interacting with animals can inspire a passion for the animal, but also that people don't have enough respect for apex predators and having access to them doesn't necessarily inspire respect.
I am with Chris here. Honestly, most children are smarter than you would give them credit for. If someone like Chris came to my school when I was a child with an alligator that was small and not only let the kids touch it but tried to use that experience to instil that deep respect for adult gators and apex predators in general, and learn about the possible threats. While enjoying gators from afar via watching videos about the sanctuary.... children are like sponges, and positive experiences with animals can do amazing things.
Really interesting video guys. The welfare of the animal should always be paramount! Good on the both of you for being so honest 👍
Chris- Appreciate you and Gabby addressing this issue of pet alligators! Pet pythons escaped during Hurricane Andrew, survived, and have become a nuisance and yet another danger to humans in FL. At the end of the day- if you allow gators as pets (I too am vehemently opposed), you MUST have a counter. That is- remove them from the status as protected species, and let anyone relocate them as they see fit, or kill them, not just licensed handlers. You can’t have it both ways with some animals; that’s reality. Enough can survive TN winters, so they’ll multiply. Then many of our really nice lakes and streams will eventually become a danger to humans. AND the gators will have a hard life here. No one wins if enough pet gators here in TN get let lose.
It’s worth noting that wildfires are more common out west, because they don’t allow the brush and small trees that act as kindling to be cleaned up anymore. The same mindset needs to be looked at with animals if we are to maintain a healthy balance.
Great video and great information guys!!!
This was SO interesting and YAY, I had no idea you had another channel until this popped up in my feed. I hate that it's always the animal that suffers for our ignorance.
I will add that in my opinion treating any living thing in the ways you describe, regardless of intent/ignorance qualifies as abuse. One solution is to teach proper care and respect of other living beings in the schools. Not likely to happen, but it would make a difference and help compensate for parents who were never taught to do the same.
It’s so crazy how MBD is unavoidable in alligators. I remember learning that in another one of your videos and I can’t unsee it now. They are such a fascinating animal. I think many people just don’t understand how awful some of these animals feel living like this. I wish MI had better laws. We actually have a sanctuary for alligators because it’s such a problem which is just insane! I often see baby alligators on ads for expos here and I hate it. I do see a slight increase of people calling them out though so keep up the good work! The more people realize how these animals suffer in captivity, the less likely the greedy, crappy people will be able to make money off of them!
I love animals and reptiles. I am from New York and would never own a wild animal because I am not set up for it, in the sanctuary educational type a way you talk about it. Also because I am aware that the pet trade industry is messed and not every animal is met to be a pet, and even some pets are not right for every situation. For example: a large 100 pound dog should not be living in a small studio apartment.
I always put the animals needs ahead of mine. If I can not meet the needs of the animal then I am not bringing it home.
I do not think this guy should get the alligator back. I also don't think anyone should attack him either.
We can't change the past. Let learn from it and move forward.
I know of a well documented pet alligator that was voluntarily surrendered to a zoo and I was surprised to learn she was 35 years old.
She's only 1.21 meters in length and the facility's owner confirmed she has MBD.
At that age, I would have expected her to be near Casper's size.
Great video, very informative! I'm sure the guy loves his gator, but at what point does it become selfishness? He must have basic alligator knowledge and recognize that his gator is very unhealthy - I think anyone can see that. If you truly love your animal you will do anything to get it the help it needs and ease its suffering, even if it causes you pain. I hope the gator can live out his life in as much comfort as can be provided by experienced keepers.💚
Tik-Tok!!❤. So glad to see and glad Comet is overseeing things!! Clover is BEAUTIFUL! Do u know her breed?
Great video..I am from Buffalo, NY, and I wish everyone around here could see this video. There is just one thing I wish you would have talked about in the video, and that's if Albert has any "emotional attachment " or "feelings" towards his owner. So many people here have jumped on this bandwagon of " Albert is going to be so sad, and will die without his owner, because that's all he's ever known". They are basing this whole argument on "emotions " and "feelings" of the alligator. I am not an expert, but I don't believe Albert can have an emotional attachment to his owner.
Ever have a pet?
Haha! SO funny! You said "don't worry - the snake🐍 won't eat the dog🐶" BUT...I am sitting here...nervous that the 🦃TURKEY is going to eat TIKTOK. Haha! I have chickens and they try to eat everything! 🦃
Oh my goodness, Tick Tock has gotten so big! She looks beautiful, I'm so glad you guys kept her. I was very curious what you guys would think of that poor gator, I saw a clip of it and thought the poor thing did not look very good, I'm glad you addressed it. I know MBD can be halted or even reversed up to a point, but that poor boy broke my heart. I would love to have a gator, they are cute and fascinating, but like so many animals that I adore, they are much better left to the wild, or to people who can recreate as close to wild conditions as possible. Sadly, so many people won't care about an animal unless they can see or touch it in person, so I think what you guys do is absolutely necessary for the conservation of a species. So glad there are people like you guys and Snake Discovery and others who can educate the public and rescue animals like Albert. Yes, these animals are your "pets", in the sense that you care for them and you feel affection and responsible for them, but I also see the huge difference between the way you treat your "wild" animals and the way you treat that adorable Chihuahua. Also per your comments about children interacting with gators: YES! THANK YOU! I don't understand how people don't understand the danger they are putting their kids in having them interact with these wild animals! I agree with Chris, but I also see where Gabby is coming from. I think a big part of it is how the educator presents, and how the handler treats the animal when presenting it. I think you, Chris, are the kind of person who can provide the education and benefits of animal interaction, but I also see from your experience, Gabby, how the burden of ensuring that interactions are done ethically is on the people (schools, zoos, etc) who book these interactions, and so often its the bad actors who provide these interactions. And for certain: Albert should NOT be returned to that 'owner'. Animals should not be returned to people who have neglected them so severely. He needs to go to someone who knows how to take care of him, and honestly that person should never be allowed to own an animal again. It's so easy to learn how to properly care for an animal, the internet is a resource that has been around for so long, he could have very easily learned. I won't harass the 'owner', but there is an amount of laziness in that much neglect that it is just as bad as malicious abuse. But that's my opinion, I will stop rambling haha. Love your guys' work and passion for animals.
Duuuude, you're living my dream life!!! Working with gators, snakes, happy marriage, happy animal family everywhere, by my count, 2 dogs, a turkey and a rooster? Hell yeah guys, love your passion!! 😎
20:14 I highly doubt any child raised by you two won't have the right amount of respect for all wildlife, but I do agree completely. A huge problem here (in South Africa) is lion cub petting. They raise the cubs up being pet by kids and being completely unafraid of humans, then then send them of to canned hunting parks. It truly disgusts me.
Im from Westchester too! didnt realize that, nice!
Okay, so when does the video actually begin?