Some of canada's largest Gators!

[Dom]

Here are pics of Chase and Steward and I ..

The male is 11 years old and starting to mature getting quite fun to handle .. He is over 250 Pounds but under 300 .. Not sure as he has not been weighed in a while .. He is HUGE ..

The female is 240 - 250 pounds .. about 10 years old and incredibly colm in the water and on land .. as long as she knows who it is ..

If u think there not that haevy .. honestly .. don't try to debate it .. they were weighed ..

Anyway - does anyone know of bigger gators in Canada?? Here are my favorite animals to work with .. Crocodilians!

Chase and I

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/55Me_and_chas_good_pic_1-med.jpg

Steward and I . He just too heavy for me to fully lift lol .. I feel weak ..

http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/500/55Me_and_Steward_good_pic_1-med.jpg

Let me know what u think ..

:)

[Dragonhood]

way too cool dude you sure do get to see some awesome animals in your travels.!!!!!!!

[zappaguy]

good size animal...but not even close to the largest crocodilian...maybe gator...karl fortin's orinoco's would have those for lunch...lol

[Invictus]

I didn't know gators were handleable at that size! Although I still think you're crazy. :P

[Piers]

Yeah Carls crocs were bigger than that like 10 years ago. Those gators are pritty big though I can't bleave how mellow they are! You must put a lot of work into them.
Piers

[Phantomghost]

Sweet pics!

[Dom]

Lots of time - after a few years and them growing up with us they become incredibly tame..

I never said they were the biggest crocodilians .. I asked if there were any bigger GATORS in CANADA .. Just curious.. I would imagine they have got to be some of the biggest out there.. not many canadians can keep such big gators inside.. thats all

Thansk for the compliments guys

[Linds]

I've never been able to make much sense of it, though I have absolutely NO experience working with large crocodilians, only small-medium caimans... but couldn't they easily turn around and *chomp* if something were to set them off?

[BOAS_N_PYTHONS]

DOM:

Very nice, crazy but I guess you know them better than anyone.

I guess you will be our Canadian "Steve" Croc hunter....lol.

Cya...

Tony

[Dom]

Linds.. ITs actually really not as bad as it looks .. as long as you do not put your arms where they are not suppose to be .. There are so many paces there mouth just can't reach .. Even then .. in the past year we have had only one close call .. Steward decided to charge us one day and we just redirected his head with our trusty stick lol and that was it..

Tony: Lets not go to far lol I can't be him. I still have not been bitten by a crocodillian lol

:)

[BoidKeeper]

Dom,

You've got a big, big set on you buddy.
Nice shots,
Trevor

[Dom]

Lol Trevor .. If you came tot eh zoo I garantee you i could convince you to com in there with me lol

[Leviathan]

I'd do it !!!! I helped hold a 5 footer when I was 12. I love gators! That's the first reptile I asked my parents for when I was 6 :) Haven't got one yet. When I own my own place hopefully... if I have the room! Great pics by the way!

[VooDooMafia]

Although is was mentioned that Karl's Crocs were bigger, I do think he has some very large Gators as well.

Karl has the most inpressive crocodillian collection I have every seen. Not to mention the world of knowledge to go with it.

[Dom]

Voo Doo ..

I have never heard of KArl's Crocs??? Where is he located?

Website .. or pics... I'd love to see some!

:)

[BoidKeeper]

Hmmm, get in a pool with Dom? I think I'd rather get in with the gator. No offence.lol
Cheers,
Trevor

[Dom]

lol Trevor .. I meant in there with the gators! Nevermind lol

[BoidKeeper]

Sure Dom, sure.lol
Cheers,
Trevor

[zappaguy]

much like a lot of good canadian herpers karl doesn't participate in these sort of things,just goes about his business. and i forgot about his gators and they are huge and his collection is at the top.

[Yness]

Yah...I don't care where they can and cannot reach....viewing gators from a distance is good enought for me!!!! Kudos to you for having cahonas the size of mars!!

[Artemis]

Hahaha id jump in if shirtless hot guy stays in the water, gators and all. And I totally agree with Trevor- big, big kahunas on this one!

Those pics make it looks soooo easy, too. I hope we explained to all the young children around not to try this at home ;)

Artemis

[Dom]

Tx for the comments guys

.. there is a half an hour speech given to the public on these animals before entering .. mainly on the intelegence, the recolection and the bonds that can be made with such an animal.

[Swampwalker]

I just hope that one day you don't create more bad press when one of them haas a bad day. The hobby already has enough going against it. There are better ways of educating the public than jumping in with them and showing off.

[Dom]

That's up to opinions .. I don't do it to show off.. You may see it that way and that is your opinion ..

I see it as when we have to move em or take care of them or actually get in the water for a real reason wether it be medical or anythign else we can get near them without any stress to the animal ..

In 5 to ten years from now when the male is around 500 pounds or even more and is agressive .. that would be very hard and stressfull to have to catch or move em ..

Theres many different ways of seing it. But I do see your point about a possible bad name and agree to a certain level .. but If proper care and proper procedures are taken there is no more danger then cleaning out a 200 pound retic cage..

Its like anyone who works with venemous or really large constrictors, if somethign bad happens then it becomes bad press ..

Does that mean I should stop cleaning the venemous cages or that I should stop handling some of the really large snakes..

Theres a reoson I go in the water with them and its not to show off .. I find that quite offensive.. You have not seen the show to make such a deduction.

Often giving the public a picture they will remember is a good way to teach em and make sure they will remember at least a bit of what u said.

[ChunkyMunky]

I think Dom knows what he is doing. Haven't seen this thread yet, NICE PICS! Very impressive.

[rwg]

I see your point Stewart, and you are entitled to your opinion of course, but I've seen the keepers in the water with these gators MANY times, and I can tell you that that is not the whole show. Education is a HUGE component of the feeding and interaction demonstrations that Dom and the other keepers do, and people pay WAY more attention to what's being said than they do when they are not being entertained.

[JD@reptiles]

cool pic. there is one that i know of thats bigger in drumheller. belonging to "Reptile World"

[Swampwalker]

Originally posted by Dom

I see it as when we have to move em or take care of them or actually get in the water for a real reason wether it be medical or anythign else we can get near them without any stress to the animal ..

In 5 to ten years from now when the male is around 500 pounds or even more and is agressive .. that would be very hard and stressfull to have to catch or move em ..



I agree with that.

Originally posted by Dom
But I do see your point about a possible bad name and agree to a certain level .. but If proper care and proper procedures are taken there is no more danger then cleaning out a 200 pound retic cage..

Its like anyone who works with venemous or really large constrictors, if somethign bad happens then it becomes bad press ..

Does that mean I should stop cleaning the venemous cages or that I should stop handling some of the really large snakes..



Your right, all of these also create bad press. I'm not saying that people should not be working with these animals. I just feel that the press tend to have more of a field day when something bad happens in front of an audience ("...as horrified children watched"). I think it is fantastic that you are educating the public and I understand that this is entertaining and helps to keep the audiences attention. I'm sorry that I offended you, it wasn't mean't as a personal attack. I hope to get a chance to see your show one day soon.

[Dom]

No worries Stewart ..

"as horrified children watched" lol .. Its so true!