We purchased a pair of alligators when we first opened the park. The male was in good nic but the female not so, she had been badly bullied by the male, was badly scarred and was actually too scared of him to even enter the water with him, even with an island in the middle to try to give separate territories. We had to build her a second, though much smaller, pond, which she used with relief. I think she hadn't been in water for a long time, as apparently the water area in their previous enclosure was about the size of the centre island in their current enclosure. It took months to get her eating right - he would eat 1 or 2 whole chickens, or a piglet, she had to have a braai pack of chicken from which she would softly take a couple of drumsticks. Slowly but surely she got stronger and stronger, now eats either a whole braai pack or even small whole chickens. Then around November (I think) we finally saw her in the big pond with the male, and soon they started "gettin' jiggy". Since then, she hasn't bothered to use her little pond. Today the ultimate
- we had to battle a fierce mommy 'gator to open up her nest, from which we removed 18 healthy looking eggs, and now the wait (with fingers and toes crossed, and bated breath as well!) begins. I am SO proud of her!!!!