00:00A field trip is an exciting part of a kid's life.
00:06They get to leave the classroom, they get to go out and explore what's going on.
00:10And today, not only do they just get to learn something, they get to touch something today.
00:15And that's what makes a big difference for a kid.
00:17All right, everyone, welcome to gator country.
00:21Every year, we do 50 to 60 shows for schools, churches, and other groups, and we want them
00:25to all have fun and go home with a better understanding of the importance of the American
00:30alligator.
00:31We think these animals are super cool and misunderstood.
00:34Most people think alligators are just these horrible man-eaters that want to kill and
00:36eat us.
00:37But that's not true at all.
00:38As a matter of fact, alligators are naturally afraid of humans.
00:42When we're done, we're going to educate these children on alligator safety.
00:46This is Harley.
00:47Everyone say, hi, Harley.
00:48Hi, Harley.
00:49We're also going to let them know we need the American alligator in its homeland.
00:55Swim between her toes.
00:56What do y'all see there?
00:57Webs.
00:58What do y'all think they use that web feet for?
00:59Swimming.
01:00Swimming?
01:01Raise your hand if you think it's swimming.
01:02Raise them real high.
01:03Be proud, because you're wrong.
01:04What?
01:05Yeah, I know.
01:06It's crazy.
01:07I teach these people how to do these shows, but I want them to do them their own way,
01:11to say their own words, and to make up their own jokes, and to do it their own educated.
01:15The only thing they swim with is their tail.
01:18They're going to move it back and forth like this, and it's going to propel them through
01:20the water.
01:22Kids get excited by alligators because they're magical.
01:25These are something they don't get to see like a dog.
01:27All right, so as I'm sure you can guess, that is Big Al.
01:34Big Al is our second largest alligator here at the park.
01:37He is 13 feet and four inches long, but not only that, he is 92 years old.
01:43Harley's part of this show is to be very entertaining, but what you don't think about, what he's
01:48doing is incredibly dangerous, and Harley's very good with those big alligators.
01:53We're going to shift up here, and go along this deck, and we're going to check out Big
01:56Tex.
01:57These kids may not come in loving these reptiles, but they'll at least be educated, and come
02:08out with some knowledge, and I hope they come out liking at least one reptile.
02:13Big Tex is our largest alligator here at the park.
02:16He is 14 feet long, weighs 1100 pounds, but not only is he our largest alligator, he is
02:23also the largest in captivity in the world.
02:25I hope these kids go home with an understanding, and a lot of memories on these amazing reptiles.
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