Ten American alligators have returned to the Australian Reptile Park after spending over 30 years at Australia Zoo, raising the Park’s total to 53—the largest collection in Australia. Born at the Park, these massive reptiles, each over 200 kg, were transported in custom boxes across the state.
Unloading them was intense, requiring an excavator and up to ten people per box. “It was pure muscle, teamwork, and nerves of steel,” said Park Manager Billy Collett. “These are apex predators—handling them is a serious game.”
Once released, the alligators erupted in violent strikes. “They weren’t happy and they let us know it,” Billy said. Despite the danger, the team completed microchip scans.
Now comes the hardest part: integration. The newcomers must face off with the dominant alpha, Ivan, in potentially violent battles for top rank.
“Organising this alligator delivery during the cooler months was a deliberate and strategic decision,” Billy explained. Cooler temperatures, aligned with the reptiles’ brumation period, help reduce aggression and make handling slightly safer.