Florida Welcomes a Rare White Alligator Wonder
Florida witnesses history as a white alligator, born in captivity, captivates hearts with its unique charm. The Sunshine State’s wildlife preserve celebrates the arrival of this leucistic marvel, marking a groundbreaking moment in the world of reptilian wonders.
By Beth Snider · December 9, 2023
A white American alligator was born at Gatorland, a popular theme park and wildlife preserve located south of downtown Orlando, Florida. This unusual-looking creature is leucistic, a condition that results in a lack of pigmentation.
The leucistic alligator, a female weighing 3.4 ounces and measuring 19.3 inches long, is the first known of its kind to be born in captivity. She is one of only eight such alligators known to exist in the world. Born alongside a dark-colored brother, both babies were examined by a veterinarian and found to be healthy. Their diet so far consists of raw chicken and Croc Chow pellets.
These new additions to Gatorland are descendants of a group of leucistic alligators discovered in a Louisiana swamp in 1987. Since 2008, three of these Louisiana gators have resided at Gatorland. One of them, a male named Jeyan, mated with a dark-colored female named Ashley, resulting in the birth of these two new babies.
There has never been a white offspring from that group of 18 brothers that were born in 1987. This is the very first one, so, it is incredibly rare.
Leucism is often mistaken for albinism, but they are different conditions. Albinism, resulting from a genetic mutation, affects the body’s production of the pigment melanin. Albino animals often have red or pink eyes because the lack of melanin allows the color of their blood vessels to shine through. Leucism, on the other hand, is a partial loss of pigmentation and often results in splotchy or patchy coloration, these animals typically have normal-colored eyes. Animals with both conditions are particularly susceptible to sunburns. To protect the pale creatures in its care, Gatorland opened a special “White Gator Swamp” habitat in 2020, which has filtered sunlight.
It’s challenging to determine the exact number of leucistic alligators in the wild, as their condition makes them more vulnerable to predators. “Leucistic young lack protective camouflage coloring and are easy pickings for predators,” according to the Audubon Nature Institute. Visitors to the park should be able to see the new babies in person starting early next year. In the meantime, the park is inviting fans of the new little ones to share suggestions for possible names on social media. This rare event offers a unique opportunity to witness and appreciate the marvels of nature.